Old Grudges Erupt Against Akpabio Ahead Of Senate Leadership Election

Despite the support of the presidency, there are indications that ill-feeling by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP caucus against Senator Godswill Akpabio and the strong support of those opposed to a rubber-stamp legislature may push the pendulum in the June 13 Senate leadership election toward former Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

GWG.ng reports that despite strong pressure from the presidency that the Yari camp has refused to buckle leaving room for a showdown in the Senate chambers on Tuesday.

Akpabio, a former Senate Minority leader is being accused of abandoning his former party in the middle of war and joining the All Progressives Congress, APC, a decision that has fuelled ill feelings against his aspiration to be Senate President.

Besides, many are also questioning the rationale of the presidency dictating to the legislators who would be their leaders.

GWG.ng reports that religion has come into play with the supporters of Akpabio mobilising the issue of religion as a weapon to win the election on the basis of the fact that the president and the vice-president are both Muslims. It is an argument that has found sympathy with some, especially outside the legislature.

However, many senators-elect including some Christians are not buying the argument with inherent resentment at the manner Akpabio dumped the PDP while being PDP Senate leader turning into an issue with many.

Even more, many strategists including Dr Cairo Ojougboh who worked closely with Akpabio as minister of Niger Delta have also turned against him and are mobilising senators-elect against Akpabio and for Yari.

A former Minister, who is also a key part in the leadership tussle of the 10th National Assembly, said over 70 Senators-elect out of the 109 members have pledged their support for Yari based on certain factors.

He listed the factors as religion, the need for an independent legislature, the role of outgoing Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and the indifference of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Akpabio’s Senate presidency ambition.

According to him: “APC has 59 senators-elect, Peoples Democratic Party has 36.

“The Labour Party has eight.

“New Nigeria Peoples Party and  Social Democratic Party both have two members each, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Young Progressives Party both have one member each.

“From what is on the ground, Yari is the man to beat.

“The number of votes required to win is 55.

“As we are speaking today, Yari has about 70 Senators-elect with him.

“Many of the Senators are backing Yari because of two main issues.

“First, those backing him are angry because the presidency and APC leadership are bringing up religion.

“If you didn’t play up religion in your time during the presidential election and you said religion is not an issue, then it won’t be an issue now.

“Two, many of the Senators-elect want a truly independent legislature, which they believe Akpabio cannot provide.

“They believe Yari has the experience and ability to hold the executive responsible if the need arises.

“For the House of Reps speakership, the APC succeeded in getting (Aliyu) Betara to step down because of the influence of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who has been appointed as the Chief of Staff to the President.

“They were able to strike a deal with Betara, which he agreed to.

“However in the Senate, the incumbent Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, is backing Yari and he has mobilised many of the senators-elect for him.

“Also, you can’t underrate the North West having given you that kind of vote in the presidential election.

“In fact, the entire North West is unhappy with the President for not throwing his weight behind Yari.

“The truth is that Akpabio is not really the candidate the President wanted.

“Some people, because of their selfish interests, just went to sell his candidacy to him, saying because he (Akpabio) stepped down for him during the primaries.

“That is why the President didn’t really push on the issue of the Senate.

“Given the kind of political strategist he is and the powers he has now, if President Tinubu really wants Yari to step down, he knows what to do and those he can use to talk to him.”

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