Akpabio Inches Closer to Senate Presidency, Claims Endorsement of 70 Senators

The New Diplomat
Writer
Akpabio Settles For APC Senatorial Ticket After Stepping Down For Tinubu

Ad

Sanae Takaichi Shatters Glass Ceiling, Becomes Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

By Abiola Olawale ​Sanae Takaichi officially made history on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, by being elected as Japan's first female prime minister following a parliamentary vote. Takaichi, an ultraconservative leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured the top post after a coalition deal with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party (Ishin no Kai). The 64-year-old…

PDP To Know Fate on Oct 31 as Court Delivers Judgment on National Convention

By Abiola Olawale The political landscape of Nigeria's main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remains suspended in uncertainty as the Federal High Court in Abuja has set October 31 as the date for judgment in the contentious suit challenging the party’s planned national convention. ​The high-stakes ruling, which follows the conclusion of legal…

Brent Flirts With $60 as Oversupply Fears Deepen

Oil prices continued to inch lower in early Tuesday trading as concerns about oversupply and sagging demand resumed their grip on the market, even as trade-talks between the United States and China offered a glimmer of optimism. At the time of writing, WTI was down 0.52% at $57.22, while Brent had fallen 0.54% to $60.61.…

Ad

By Charles Adingupu

As the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly inches closer, the battle for the leadership of the Senate gets tougher as the leading contender, former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio claims the endorsement of 70 out of 109 Senators elected into the 10th Assembly.

This feat was reportedly accomplished by Senator Akpabio following a great deal of horse trading on his behalf by a group of APC party members which styled itself as the “Stability Group.”

A prominent Senator and Director General of Akpabio’s Campaign, Ali Ndume disclosed this when members of the Stability Group stormed the office of the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

Senator Ndume said that apart from the 49 members of the stability group who pledged unalloyed support for the realisation of Akpabio’s aspirations, others who were not present in the meeting but have appended their signatures brought the total number of Senators behind Akpabio to 70.

He disclosed that a machinery is already in place to cajole senators from other political parties to endorse Akpabio.

The Campaign DG who enjoined Party members present at the meeting to work assiduously for the emergence of Akpabio as the President of the 10th Senate, said the choice of Akpabio was predicated on the desire of the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a government of inclusiveness where every region would be adequately represented.

“I’m very much qualified to vie for the seat of the Senate President, and so are other members who are eminently qualified. But we must join hands with the President elect to build a government of national stability. Hence, we have to jettison our ambition,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Akpabio thanked the lawmakers for their endorsement, and promised to justify the confidence reposed on him.

Akpabio also urged other APC senators yet to endorse his candidacy to endeavour to do so as well as work on other Senators in the upper chamber to support him.

His words: “Party supremacy must be uppermost in our dealings, and obeying party leaders is like obeying God.”

He promised to work with the President elect to ensure that Nigeria is stabilises and all debt owed by NIgeria is paid.

The APC National Chairman advised Akpabio against coming late to the senate election in order to forestall a repeat of the unpleasant experience that led to the emergence of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President of the 8th National Assembly.

Ad

X whatsapp