New Revelation On How Team Akpabio Overcame Plot By Three Former Governors To Stop Him

Last-minute intrigues and intense lobbying by the Presidency led to the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as Senate President despite the plot of three former governors known to have helped Senator Bukola Saraki win that office in 2015.

Akpabio, a senator representing Akwa-Ibom North West, was declared the 10th Senate President after polling 63 votes to defeat his opponent, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Zamfara West, who got 46 votes as announced by the Clerk to the National Assembly.

Akpabio was nominated by Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) and seconded by Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Ogun); while Yari was nominated by Elisha Abbo (APC, Adamawa) and seconded by Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo).

Senator Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano) emerged as Deputy Senate President unopposed as Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia) eying the position from Yari’s camp backed out. Barau was nominated for the position by David Umahi (APC Ebonyi) and seconded by Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara).

In a bid to avoid the 2015 scenario where Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara emerged as Senate President and Speaker respectively against the party’s decision, the 10th Assembly inauguration started two hours behind schedule.

The CNA had, in a statement, earlier announced that the inauguration would commence by 10am. But lawmakers were seated in the two chambers as early as 8am.  Lawmakers arrived at the parliament as early as 8am.

Protest over Yari’s nomination 

There was a mild drama on the floor following the attempt to stop the nomination of Yari for the Senate president’s seat.

After Senator Abbo nominated Yari, some lawmakers protested against it.

Senator Mohammed Tahir  Mongono (APC, Borno) said the nomination of Yari, being a non-ranking senator, contravenes Order 3 of the Senate Standing Rule.

But lawmakers in Yari’s camp dismissed Monguno’s submission, shouting ‘Nooo’.

The CNA overruled Mongono, saying Yari’s nomination was in order and not against any rule of the Senate or relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution. 

Factors that gave Yari 46 votes

Yari contested the position against the party’s choice after calls for a review of the APC zoning formula went without desired results.

According to a Daily Trust report, three former governors, who are regarded as landlords of the Senate mobilised senators for Yari against Akpabio.

 Two credible sources said the three former governors played key roles in the emergence of Bukola Saraki when he defied the directives of the party in 2015. One of the sources said the former governors control a bloc in the Senate.

“They worked for Yari. They were instrumental in the emergence of Bukola in 2015. In 2019, Lawan won when he was able to bring them on board following Buhari’s intervention. They are powerful,” he said. Another source, a senator said except for the push by the presidency, Yari would have defeated Akpabio with the three governors on his side.

“The Monday meeting between President Tinubu and former Senate President Ahmad Lawan turned the table in favour of Akpabio.  He was with Yari before the meeting,” the source added.

Besides the role of the three former governors against Akpabio, also, the alliance between Yari and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, another aggrieved Senate presidency aspirant, contributed to the votes he polled. Kalu agreed to pair with Yari as deputy Senate president. Yari’s candidacy was seen by his backers and promoters as a northern agenda, lamenting that the zoning template is skewed against the North.

They said all three arms of government will be headed by southerners with Akpabio as the Senate President.

They said voting for the party’s endorsed candidate amounted to acceptance of undue executive interference in the affairs of the legislature. These factors worked in favour of Yari.

Also, the secret ballot system adopted for the election in the Senate boosted Yari’s chance, as APC senators who were not comfortable with the choice of Akpabio had the free will to vote against the party’s preferred candidate. 

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