The coast got clearer for Senator Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau in their bids for president and deputy president of the Senate of the 10th Senate on Wednesday with open support from 69 senators – elect across party lines.
The 69 Senators – elect demonstrated their support for the Akpabio / Barau ticket in a jointly signed centre spread congratulatory advertorial for President Bola Tinubu in the Wednesday edition of one of the national dailies.
In the advertorial, names of each of the 69 senators – elect along with those of Akpabio and Jibrin Barau totalling71, were listed.
The names as arranged in the publication include Senators Akpabio Godswill Obot , Barau Jibrin , Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South ) Sani Bello Abubakar ( APC Niger North) , Nweze David Umahi ( APC Ebonyi South) , Ibrahim Bomai ( APC Yobe South) , Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC Ekiti Central ) , Solomon Adeola ( APC Ogun West) and I Abiru Adetokunbo ( APC Lagos East).
Others are Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong ( APC Cross River South) , Titus Zam ( APC Benue North West) , Sadiku Abubakar Ohere ( APC Kogi Central) , Kenneth Eze Emeka ( APC Ebonyi Central) , Diket Plang ( APC Plateau Central) , Nwebonyi Onyeka ( APC Ebonyi North) , Isah Jibrin ( APC Kogi Central) and Karimi Sunday ( APC Kogi West)
Meanwhile,Rep Tajudeen Abbas and Rep Benjamin Kalu Thursday met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his preferred candidates for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, respectively.
The meeting is coming on the heels of the inauguration of the 10th leadership of the National Assembly slated for June 13, 2023.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Rep Tajudeen Abbas said he is optimistic that he would be the Speaker of the House of Representatives while Kalu would be his deputy.
He said they were at the Presidential Villa to congratulate the President on his inauguration on May 29, 2023.
He dispelled the rumour that the House of Representatives would be a rubber stamp, stressing that nobody can manipulate the 360 members to make them do what will not be of national interest.
He said that the independence of the legislature would not be compromised under his leadership.
“You may recall that just two or three days ago, Mr President, the reign of power was handed over to him on May 29.
“And since then, we did not have any formal interactions. We felt that it is expedient as the candidates of the party for the number four and number six positions, there is a need for us to formally congratulate him on behalf of all members elect of the 10th assembly.”
