"Tinubu's reported endorsement of Akpabio and Barau takes a back seat to heated power struggle in 10th NASS"

A battle has erupted for the principal offices of Nigeria's 10th National Assembly as over 30 senators-elect of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected the advanced choice of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jubrin Barau for Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively. 

The choice of the pair was reportedly communicated to the senators-elect by the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at a meeting of the APC leadership in Abuja. 

However, many of the senators-elect present at the occasion said no to Akpabio's choice, citing national unity and cohesion. Instead, they proposed the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and a former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, for Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively. 

The APC senators demanded the neutrality of the president-elect in the elections of the presiding and principal officers of the National Assembly.

Tinubu's choice of Akpabio was reportedly contingent on his ability to secure about 60 senators-elect backing his bid. 

However, for any senator to emerge Senate President, he needs to have 60 votes on the floor of the Senate in June when the election of the presiding and principal officers holds. 

The APC has 59 senators-elect while opposition parties put together have 50 senators-elect. 

On the choice of speaker for the House of Representatives, the gathering reportedly expressed concern that Tinubu's choice, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, may not be accepted by the generality of the House members and instead rooted for Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, from Borno State, to be the Speaker. 

The outgoing Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied supporting any particular candidate for the speakership, saying he was waiting for the party's zoning formula before backing any contestant.