Senate Presidency: Umahi, Barau, Ndume, steps down for Akpabio; Barau tiped as deputy
Three of the Senators-elect contending the Presidency of the 10th Senate on Friday night stepped down for one of the strong contenders for the position, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The trio, who jettisoned their ambition after a two-hour close-door meeting with re-elected Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Ebonyi State Governor’s Lodge at Asokoro, Abuja are former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume; Chairman of Senate Appropriation Committee, Senator Jubrin Barau and outgoing Governor of Ebonyi state, Dave Umahi.
They told newsmen after the meeting that a consensus candidate in the person of former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio was agreed upon in national interest and peace.
According to Ndume, ” we have all deferred to our brother to fly the flag of the APC as Senate President of the 10th National Assembly. We know he has the capacity to lead the Red Chamber of the federal legislature.”
They also told reporters that the meeting resolved to present Barau as the Deputy President of the next National Assembly.
Responding, Akpabio thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him and assured that he would not let the legislators down after the inauguration of the National Assembly in June, 2023.
Another meeting of Akpabio and his team with the new APC Senators is scheduled for Saturday May 6 at Frazier suites in Abuja where he is expected to brief them about his candidature and the resolution of his colleagues to work with him.
