By Uchechukwu Okoroafor
After all the initial ‘gragra’ the chicken is coming home to roost. And the men are being separated from the boys in the tussle for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.
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Already it has become apparent that the party is supreme. Most of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers are lining up behind the adopted candidates of the All Progressives Congress for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the coming 10th House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, respectively, and Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 10 Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin respectively.
Recently, in furtherance of their consultations with stakeholders ahead of the 10 National Assembly inauguration the duo of Abbas and Kalu have visited the Governor-elect of Abia State, Alex Otti.
The visit, which took place in Abuja, was in continuation of the candidates’ nationwide consultation with stakeholders across party lines, ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, when the presiding officers of the parliament will be elected.
On the entourage were leaders and members of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, a coalition of members-elect of the APC and opposition parties who have adopted the ruling party’s candidates.
Abbas and Kalu went to seek the blessing of Otti, a member of the Labour Party, and members of the opposition party from Abia State. Kalu is the only returning APC member of the House from Abia State, where the LP swept the governorship and parliamentary seats. It was a demonstration of the bi-partisan leadership which Abbas and Kalu would engender which will be in the overall interest of the country irrespective of political leanings. It also showed that the Deputy Speaker Designate has the support of the South East geo-political zone and the support of his home state, Abia. Picture of the meeting showed that the meeting was convivial and the Labour Party in the state was ready to work harmoniously with Abbas and Kalu for the development of the country. It has also emerged that the national leadership of the Labour Party is ready to work with the anointed candidates of the APC.
Also recently, the Director-General, Labour Party presidential campaign council, Akin Osuntokun, has explained the reason why senators-elect on the Labour Party platform are supporting the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the position of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Prior to the selection of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin for the seat of the Senate President and deputy respectively, the leadership of the APC has been wooing its aggrieved members and members-elect from other parties to support the duo for the positions.
The APC National Working Committee and Akpabio/Barau Campaign Organisation also known as The Stability Group recently met with the leadership of the Labour Party and the New Nigerian People’s Party to appreciate them for their support for the APC candidate.
Speaking on the details of the meeting in an interview the Chairman of the group and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, said Akpabio and Barau had the support of senators-elect from the Peoples Democratic Party and the LP. He added that 70 senators had signed to support the Akpabio/Barau ticket.
He said, “Right now you see some people from PDP in the South East, people from the Senators-Elect from Labour Party, they have all joined supporting Senator Akpabio and Senator Barau.
“As of today, we have 70 Senators who have signed for us and are attending meetings with us. But we are still moving; today we went to the Labour Party to thank them for their members that are supporting us.”
Reacting to this development Osuntokun said APC Senators-elect had the LP support due to the unavailability of other parties contesting for the seat.
“They would have taken a lot of things into consideration before they decided to support the leadership of the National Assembly. I am not knowledgeable on what is going on but they must have their reason why they are doing that especially when there is no other party contesting. If there is no other party contesting, then they don’t have a choice.”
What is clear is that there is bi-partisan endorsement of the APC anointed candidates. Given that clarity. it is now obvious that Kalu, Abbas, Akpabio and Jibrin would lead the 10th National Assembly.
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