Reports have emerged suggesting that the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, is facing apprehension in his camp.
This is due to the alleged withdrawal of support by President Bola Tinubu for his bid to become Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.
This newspaper learnt that senators predominantly from the South West region have called for a crucial meeting scheduled for Friday. The purpose of the meeting is reportedly to reassess their stance and chart a new course regarding the leadership of the Senate.
According to sources, the decision to hold the meeting on Friday was influenced by the desire to await the outcome of a crucial meeting of leading Senators-elect scheduled for Thursday.
It can be recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had issued a press statement two weeks ago announcing the endorsement of Senator Godswill Akpabio and three others for top positions in the National Assembly.
Senator Akpabio was endorsed for the position of Senate President, while Senator Jubrin Barau from the North-west was endorsed for Deputy Senate President. Honourable Tajudeen Abass from the North-west was endorsed for Speaker of the House of Representatives and Honorable Kanu from the South-East for Deputy Speaker.
The announcement sparked protests, condemnations, and widespread criticism across the country.
Many questioned the rationale behind allotting two out of the six presiding offices in the National Assembly to a single zone while leaving the North Central without any position. Furthermore, the decision to allocate the deputy speaker position to the South-East rather than the highly coveted Senate presidency drew considerable criticism, as it was perceived as neglecting the zone.
Additionally, Nigerians expressed outrage at the micro-zoning of the Senate President position to Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is currently under investigation by anti-graft agencies for a series of corruption cases.
However, given the implications of supporting a senator facing multiple corruption cases, President Bola Tinubu is said to have reportedly heeded the advice of his trusted political allies and quietly withdrawn his support for Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Sources indicate that the President is determined to lead a corruption-free government and strengthen existing policies and institutions to combat corruption effectively.
In his inaugural speech, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu explicitly declared his commitment to taking proactive measures, such as promoting a culture of credit to discourage corruption while enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of anti-corruption agencies.
One senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “With this statement, most of us have come to realise that President Bola Tinubu would not support any senator entangled in corruption cases with anti-graft agencies after declaring his intent to strengthen and empower them. We have recognised the folly of remaining in this camp. We have scheduled a meeting for Thursday to strategise and determine our next course of action,” the Whistler Newspaper reports.
