The inauguration of the 10th National Assembly today has revealed a deep division among the senators-elect regarding the aspirations of former Senate Minority Leader Senator Godswill Akpabio and former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari for the position of Senate President.
The decision on who will hold the key positions in the 10th National Assembly remains uncertain as conflicting claims about supporters emerge.
Akpabio's supporter group held a meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Lagos Hall, where they claimed to have over 70 senators-elect in their camp. However, only 52 senators-elect attended the meeting, causing concern about the lack of overwhelming support. Vice President Kashim Shettima promised to reach out to other senators, particularly from the North, to rally support for Akpabio and Senator Jibrin Barau's aspirations for the positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively.
On the other hand, Senator Abdul Ningi, speaking on behalf of Yari's support group during a press briefing, claimed that at least 67 of his colleagues have expressed their support for Abdulaziz Yari's candidacy for Senate President, with more expected to join. There are speculations that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may request Yari to step down for Akpabio before the inauguration to avoid a repeat of the 2015 scenario when the ruling party's candidates were unexpectedly defeated.
Notably, The Initiatives, a group comprising former and serving National Assembly members, and the Coalition of South-South Community for United Nigeria for Justice and Equity, have urged senators-elect to vote for Godswill Akpabio as President of the 10th Senate and Jibrin Barau as Deputy President of the Senate. They believe that Akpabio's leadership will result in the fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's campaign promises and initiate much-needed reforms for the country's progress.
Vice President Shettima's efforts to garner support for Akpabio and Barau have included meetings and discussions with senators, particularly those who may be swayed by Abdulaziz Yari's narrative of North marginalization despite the region's overwhelming support for Bola Tinubu. Shettima emphasized the need for inclusivity by suggesting that a Christian senator should hold the third-highest position in the country since both the President and Vice President are Muslims.
In his bid for the Senate Presidency, Abdulaziz Yari pledged to support President Bola Tinubu in advancing Nigeria as a united and prosperous nation.
Yari emphasized the importance of a stable Senate and National Assembly, promising to prioritize the interests of Nigerians above party interests. He stated that his leadership would foster a cooperative relationship with President Tinubu and other arms of government, including the Executive.
While Yari's supporters claim to have a significant number of senators-elect on their side, discussions and negotiations with other contenders, such as Orji Uzor Kalu, Osita Izunaso, and Sani Musa, are ongoing. Abdul Ningi expressed confidence in Yari's leadership and urged the APC to allow senators to choose their own leader, emphasizing the importance of learning from past mistakes and avoiding the imposition of leaders on the National Assembly.
The outcome of the election for the Senate President and other key positions in the 10th National Assembly remains uncertain, as both Akpabio and Yari gather support and engage in negotiations to secure the necessary backing.
The final decision will shape the direction and dynamics of Nigeria's legislative branch for the foreseeable future.
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