Senate presidency: Talk of Tinubu, APC ‘revoking support’ for Akpabio upsets ex-minister’s allies

Talk of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly revoking their support for Godswill Akpabio as senate president is causing upset among the allies of the former governor of Akwa Ibom.

Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, had been anointed by the ruling party for the position of senate president.

But Uzor Orji Kalu, senate whip and Abdulaziz Yari, senator-elect, protested the decision to anoint Akpabio and others.

Kalu and Yari have said they are still in the race for senate president, with the former governor of Abia hinting at an alliance with the former.

Abdullahi Adamu, APC national chairman, had also admitted that the leadership of the party had not consulted widely concerning the issue.

The chairman said the party was reviewing the nominations to see if the decision could be reversed.

“We must as democrats open up. We will go back to the drawing board. We owe our party that duty to take a look whether what was done can be changed; what was done needs some changes or reviews,” Adamu had said.

However, Salihu Lukman, vice-chairman of the APC in the north-west, accused Adamu of not working for the success of those nominated by the APC as presiding officers in the 10th national assembly – an indication that party leadership was divided over the nominations.

A source privy to the scheming said a meeting of the party’s leadership has been fixed for Thursday to find a solution to the impasse.

There are concerns that Akpabio might have baggage that does not sit well with the party, the source said.

Commenting on the purported stance of the party’s leadership, Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south and director-general of the Akpabio group, said the former minister has been accused of corruption like any other politician.

“It is not surprising that whenever a politically exposed person is contesting elections, some people would be sponsored to raise issues against him or her,” Ndume said in reaction to the party’s purported move.

“They say some corrupt activities took place under his watch at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) but they did not say he misappropriated funds as governor or as minister.”

The senator said Akpabio only supervised the commission and was not part of the day-to-day running of the organisation when he was the minister.