How Ali Ndume Revealed President Tinubu’s Role in Akpabio’s Emergence as the Senate President
“So many factors helped Akpabio’s victory; when I contested the last time, the President endorsed Ahmed Lawan. So it’s almost a repetition of the same thing. The party and the president had a preferred candidate, but this President because he is an experienced politician, played lots of Politics in it. He deployed his foot soldiers to complement our efforts, and that made a difference.”
The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Senator Ali Ndume, has just confirmed that former Lagos State Governor and APC Chieftain, Bola Tinubu, begged some people for Senator Godswill Akpabio to become Senate President after making some calls and visits during the 10th National Assembly elections in Abuja.
On Tuesday, Akpabio emerged as the Senate President with 63 votes, beating Abdulaziz Yari, who was his main opposition, with 46 votes. It was also suggested that the former Akwa Ibom State governor won because of Tinubu’s financial and political support.
Akpabio is said to be President Buhari and APC’s preferred candidate for the position, and Tinubu thought the former governor was well-qualified, hence he put in some necessary efforts to ensure Akpabio’s emergence by playing smart politics, deploying his foot soldiers and knocking on doors secretly to beg APC members, according to Ndume.
This is not the first time the President will get involved in deciding who becomes the Senate President. In 2019, he endorsed Ahmed Lawan to take over the position, the same year Ndume contested against Lawan.
It’s fair to say that President Tinubu played a massive role in ensuring that Akpabio became the Senate President. Still, it remains to be seen how the latter will handle the enormous responsibility that comes with being the Senate President.
