Three Senators-elect who had been vying for the presidency of the 10th Senate set to be inaugurated in June 2023, last night (Friday) withdrew their candidacies and threw their support behind one of the leading contenders, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Reports has it that this was after a two-hour closed-door meeting with re-elected Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Ebonyi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
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The former Senate Leader Senator Ali Ndume, Chairman of Senate Appropriation Committee Senator Jubrin Barau, and outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State Dave Umahi has announced that they had agreed upon a consensus candidate in the interest of peace and national interest.
The trio also revealed that the meeting had resolved to present Barau as the Deputy President of the next National Assembly.
According to Ndume, “We have all deferred to our brother to fly the flag of the APC as Senate President of the 10th National Assembly. We know he has the capacity to lead the Red Chamber of the federal legislature.”
Umahi said, “Akpabio came on consultation with me but yesterday, I saw the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on his invitation and he told me that he’s already committed.
“He said, Please don’t run and I accepted to step down for Senator Akpabio for Senate President and Senator Barau for Deputy Senate President.”
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Akpabio expressed his gratitude for the confidence his colleagues had placed in him and pledged not to let them down in his efforts to advance the National Assembly.
Following this meeting, Akpabio and his team held another gathering with new APC Senators at Frazier Suites in Abuja.