By Charles Adingupu
After what many political observers dubbed a “rat race” for the seat of the President of the Senate, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio trounced Senator Abdul’aziz Yari to emerge the new Senate President on Tuesday.
In the end, the race was not as tight as was expected as Akpabio, a former Senate Minority Leader, polled 63 votes to defeat Yari, the former governor of Zamfara, who got 46 votes.
The lawmakers-elect had earlier commenced voting on the floor of the Nigerian Senate when Senator Ali Ndume nominated Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position, after reading a rich biography of the former Akwa Ibom governor.
Akpabio’s nomination was seconded by Senator Olamilekan Solomon Yayi from Ogun state.
Similarly, Senator Ishaku Abbo nominated Senator Abdul Aziz Yari as Senate President.
In the build-up to the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly the election for the Senate Presidency was characterized by deep political horse trading and brickbats, as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was divided over the party’s choice of Candidate.
However after much consultations and political handshake across ethnic and religious borders, an amicable truce seemed to have been reached before the election proper with President Tinubu throwing his weight in support of Akpabio.
The emergence of Akpabio as the President of the 10th Senate will no doubt affect the election of the more volatile House of Representatives where the party’s official candidate, Tajudeen Abbas of Kaduna State had fought a running battle with a team of opponents under the aegis of G7.
The linchpin of the group, Hon Mukthar Aliyu Betera had only yesterday agreed to support the candidacy of Abbas, and the victory of Akpabio today may all have sealed the deal for Abbas who is now expected to defeat his opponents for the Speakership job.
