After weeks of power play, horse-trading, alignments, and realignments, former Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio and former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari will compete for the Senate presidency power.
Mr. Tajudeen Abass will face former deputy speaker Idris Wase for the House speakership.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, National Working Committee, NWC, nominated Akpabio and Abass for the top legislative positions. Senator Jibrin Barau and Rep Benjamin Kalu deputize them.
Many aspirants opposed President Bola Tinubu's party's pick. Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Osita Izunaso, and Yari kicked. G-7 lawmakers in the House opposed the move.
At press time, most of the G-7 had switched to support Abass, leaving Wase alone.
On Wednesday, Wase said his speakership aspiration was based on Chief Solomon Lar's prophetic words at the 9th House's valedictory session.
“Of course, I want to appreciate my political leaders, among whom I would say was Solomon Lar who, when I was contesting in 2007, I went to him and he prophesied the number of times I will come to this Assembly and the number of leadership positions that I will attain, even the deputy speakership and he prophesied that when next I return, and I believe, I will be Speaker and I believe that Insha Allah, I will be the Green Chamber Speaker,” Wase said.
Wase may resign before today's House inauguration.
Yesterday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima warned that his recent endorsement of Senator Akpabio was being twisted to sow discord.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said all 55 South-South members-elect supported Abass.
Rep. Victor Ogene, leader of the Labour Party caucus and Greater Majority spokesman, said the G-6 aspirants' Abass/Kalu ticket was the only option.
Yari's supporters have called claims of inducement ridiculous and accused opponents of pursuing Yari's arrest before inauguration.
The dominant opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it has not chosen Senate and House minority leaders.
The senators-elect were split between Akpabio and Yari at press time. Both camps are scrambling for senator-elect signatures. Who would win?
The Akpabio camp claims 70 senator-elect support. Only 52 senators-elect attended his fan group gathering at the Lagos Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. Vice-President Kashim Shettima promised to beg senators, especially from the North, to support Akpabio and Jibrin Barau.
The Initiatives, an agenda-setting college of former and serving NASS members, and a Coalition of South-South Community for United Nigeria for Justice and Equity asked senators-elect to vote for Akpabio yesterday.
Eseme Eyiboh, Dean of the Faculty, told reporters in Abuja that with Akpabio as Senate President, President Bola Tinubu's administration will fulfill its campaign promises because the 10th Senate will implement many reforms that will change the country's fortunes.
At a press event, Yari's support group, led by former Deputy Senate Leader Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), claimed that 67 senators-elect supported him.
Yesterday, Vice-President Shettima denounced attempts to utilize his recent support for Senator Akpabio as 10th Senate President to sow discord.
Abiola Sola, Director of Information in the Office of the Vice President, stated Shettima supported Akpabio to emphasize diversity and fairness.
His words: “During an interactive session with senators campaigning for Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Barau Jibrin to lead the 10th Senate, Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized the nation’s current political structure and made a case for formation of a Southern Christian and a Northern Muslim as the fairest balance to promote inclusion at the centre. Senator Shettima's statement was inspired by a deep awareness of our nation's dividing issues and aligned with the governing party's goal to ensure inclusivity across all regions and groups.
Shettima's statement was "stripped of context and maliciously circulated as an attempt to minimize the suitability of Muslim contestants in the race for the Senate leadership," Sola added.
He said the words were taken out of context and distorted to destroy our unity efforts.
He said: “Senator Shettima advocated during the meeting that considering Nigeria’s President and Vice President are Muslims, it would not be ill-advised for the lawmakers to choose a non-Muslim contestant, even if against a more qualified Muslim option, to achieve balance.
Also Read: Akpabio, Yari, Izunaso Contest Senate Presidency
“It is distressing that such an explicit plea has been unfairly misinterpreted to imply that the Vice-President said the most incompetent Christian candidate is superior to a Muslim candidate. This erroneous interpretation would be distressing and exploited by people with a bad agenda.”
Some senators-elect loyal to Yari yesterday dismissed the Akpabio group's charges of money inducement against him ahead of today's National Assembly inauguration.
On Monday, 7th Senate member Clever Ikisikpo accused the Yari group of buying votes.
All politicians oppose vote-buying. If you collect money to vote for someone, they will never respect you. At a Monday news conference, Ikisikpo, who has been campaigning for Senator Akpabio, advised senators-elect to vote on Tuesday.
An unnamed Yari camp member called the charge “not only false and laughable but also disappointing, irresponsible and a weak resort to falsehood and smear campaign.”
He added that senators-elect “are already made, respected, contented, very responsible and independent-minded individuals who cannot be compromised or induced”.
Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi remarked, “Those who are talking about money politics should remember how they won their party primaries about six months ago from top to bottom, using money.
“When Senator Ndume made that statement, I was surprised because he is experienced enough to know that money is involved in politics but not the most important. Our candidate's campaign is not about money.
“Senators-elect across the camps see this allegation as a deliberate smear on our individual and collective reputation, integrity and image,” he said.
Another South-South senator-elect who left Akpabio's camp denied the accusation and said senators-elect are supporting Yari out of conviction, not money.
He also accused the Akpabio camp of premature celebrating because to rumors in Abuja that senator-elect Yari will be kidnapped by security operatives before Tuesday morning.
Before the National Assembly's commencement, Yari's reluctance to drop out amid rumors that he was backed by APC leaders has caused waves.
Yari has a court injunction barring his arrest.
In particular, Justice Donatus Okoronkwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had restrained the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS from detaining Yari until June 27, 2023, when they must appear to show cause.
We have an Islamic President and Vice President, and number three will be a Christian Senate President.
‘’What we are saying across party lines, all the governors in Nigeria, and I am stating it publicly, is that we would support the president who is a Christian from the South-South region of Nigeria.
“We are not playing religious politics, but fair is fair. We supported Southern presidents and justice. We will stand for equity and fairness.
Mr. Unyime Idem from Akwa Ibom, a zonal coordinator of the Joint Task, a coalition of eight political parties that won seats in the 10th Assembly, assured Abass and Kalu of the votes of all 55 members-elect from the South-South zone.
"It's a privilege to welcome our incoming Speaker and Deputy by God's grace," he remarked. As united Task coordinator, I am pleased to inform your Excellencies that 55 of 55 South-South Caucus members have signed the united ticket.
I want to promise you that we will have the complete 55 as they present in the parliament on Tuesday to offer you 55 votes from the South-South geopolitical zone.
Mr. Usman Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe), Joint Task – 10th Assembly Co-chairman, said the zone has paid its due.
“Given the level of support we have enjoyed from key members of the Caucus, including yourself, who have been with us in this journey right from the start, this 55-over-55 is not surprising.”
Kalu, the deputy speaker nominee, thanked the zonal caucus for supporting inclusiveness in parliament.
“Our mustard seed has germinated and grown to this level of acceptance and support from our brothers and sisters across the country.I stand here as part of the South and I said to myself that getting the South-East and South-West to endorse us wasn’t going to be complete for me without the South-South, and thank God the South-South has completed the circle by adopting us and we are so very grateful.
Abbas, the speaker nominee, thanked the zone and promised to value their support.
“I came here tonight to thank my loved ones. I've experienced love in numerous parts of the country, but the South-South has been different. He promised not to take this kindness and camaraderie for granted.
Mr. Afam Ogene, Leader of the Labour Party caucus for the forthcoming House of Representatives and Spokesman of the minority "Greater Majority" caucus, stated Abbas and Kalu have earned their support.
He said, "Beyond just endorsement, I think that the emergence of both men as leaders of the emergent 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives is already a fait accompli." Why? Despite the outcry over their "adoption," they stayed focused. Both men ran the most pragmatic campaigns in terms of member-elect interaction. They weren't comfortable as anointed candidates. Besides Mr. Muktar Betara, whose candidacy drew the most support from returning and new members, T.J. Abass and Benjamin Kalu finally got their stripes.”
The PDP has advised Nigerians to dismiss rumors that particular people were chosen for minority leadership roles in the 10th National Assembly.
The party issued the disclaimer due to erroneous rumors and reports.
Yesterday, party National Publicity Secretary Hon. Debo Ologunagba stated this in Abuja.
The party said: “Such rumours and reports do not represent the true position of affairs in our Party and among our National Assembly members-elect.For clarity, the PDP is on the same page with our lawmakers-elect in focusing, for now, on maximizing our numerical strength with other opposition parties to determine the presiding officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, and will not allow any distractions.”
The PDP wants the next House Speaker to have long-term administrative and legislative experience, leadership skills, and legislative accomplishments.
“The PDP and our National Assembly members will speak with one voice on other leadership positions in the federal legislature at the right time.
“The PDP, therefore, urges Nigerians to disregard the said rumour and reports as our Party and members-elect at the moment have our eyes on the ball on the election of the Presiding Officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly in the general interest of Nigerians.”
