The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has a good reason to worry following the revelation that some senators across party lines are planning to thwart its plan to ensure that Godswill Akpabio becomes the next Senate President.
No fewer than 67 senators are believed to be supporting a former Governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari for the top job.
To emerge as Senate President, a contestant only requires two-thirds of the 109 senators.
Yari’s support base, according to Abdul Ningi, a former deputy majority leader cuts across party lines.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his party had endorsed Akpabio to take over from incumbent Ahmad Lawan, as the Chairman of the National Assembly for the incoming 10th Senate.
But as it seems, the ruling party cannot count on the support of majority senators, including from its own fold to vote for Akpabio on June 13 when the new NASS leadership is expected to emerge.
According to Ningi, senators who are angry that the ruling party is trying to impose on them, have now lined behind Yari who has vowed to contest against Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state next week.
Speaking on the capacity of Yari to emerge the Senate President, Ningi said “Our latest count, we had 67 as of yesterday (Tuesday) night, and more are coming by the grace of God.
“I’m not a member of the APC, I don’t know how the working committee of the APC works, but over 20 years we have seen consistent friction where people are imposed on the national assembly beginning with Enwerem and Chuba.
“Allow the senators, in my opinion, to choose whoever they want. The PDP had also made similar mistakes and I thought the APC should not have followed suit. Just as the party chooses its chairman, allow the senators to also choose their leader.
“Yes, Yari can lead the senate, and that is why we are following him, that is why we are backing him. We have also been leaders in the senate. We were not only in the senate, but we held principal positions.
“You need experienced hands like us to be able to guide you to achieve what is required. If we make a mistake in choosing our leader, we have every right to remove him,” Ningi said.
Meanwhile, those watching what is happening in the NASS insist that the ruling APC is doing all to ensure that more senators vote for the former Akwa Ibom governor.
