Politics

Support For Akpabio’s Senate Presidency Shaky, Number Of Supporters Dwindle

Published

3 years ago

June 5, 2023

Editor

Strong Indications have emerged that the aspiration of former Minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for the Senate presidency is shaking as supporters are said to have reduced tremendously.

It was gathered yesterday that support for the former governor of Akwa Ibom State for the Senate presidency of the 10th National Assembly may have finally hit the rocks because more senators reportedly dumped his camp for Senators Abdul’aziz Yari and Osita Izunaso-led Senate Democratic Caucus, SDC.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress, APC, had announced the endorsement of Akpabio and three others for the topmost positions in the National Assembly.

While Senator Akpabio from South-South was endorsed for Senate presidency, Senator Jubrin Barau from North-West was chosen as Deputy Senate President, just as Tajudeen Abass, North-West was picked as speaker of the House of Representatives and Kanu, South-East, deputy speaker.

Their choice by the party did not, however, go down well with some members of the party, especially those aspiring for the position of presiding offices in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Consequently, protests, condemnation and strong criticisms across the country trailed the development.

It was also gathered that as of yesterday afternoon, Senator Akpabio was left with less than 30 senators, while the Yari/Izunaso-led camp swelled to over 50 between Thursday and yesterday morning.

From the statistics taken at the last outing of the two camps held simultaneously at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the Destination by Gidanka respectively, 21 senators-elect attended the Stability group of Akpabio, while 57 physically attended the Yari-led group meeting, with apologies from 16 other senators-elect who could not attend in person.

It was also gathered yesterday morning that at least four of the senators-elect that attended Akpabio meeting have shifted camp and alliance to the SDC camp of Yari and Izunaso. The four senators are from South-South and South-West.

With this, the Yari/Izunaso-led group, made up of senators-elect from the six geo-political zones of the country, now has over 60 senators-elect in their camp, a clear majority in the 109-member Senate.

Even with the 57 senators-elect that physically attended the meeting at Senator Izunaso-owned Destination Hotel office, the group has already secured more than the 55 votes required to produce the Senate president.

In what is now seen as a calculated move by the powers behind the two camps to determine the strongest force in the emerging Senate, the simultaneous meetings of the two camps have now confirmed the actual strength of the competing tendencies.

It appears that Senator Akpabio may be losing out for Senator Abdul’aziz Yari or the other leading aspirant in his team, Senator Osita Izunaso.

The abysmal attendance of senators-elect at the Akpabio-led camp meeting inTranscorp Hilton was said to have embarrassed the highly respected former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who was invited there as an observer.

Chief Osoba was said to have left the meeting highly disappointed.

VANGUARD

Related Topics:10th NASS 10th Senate Akpabio

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Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.