PDP rejects choice of Akpabio as senate president as party still remembers his shock defection

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) senators-elect in Nigeria's forthcoming 10th senate have objected to the possible choice of former Akwa Ibom State governor Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next senate president.

With Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from the southwest elected as president and Senator Kashim Shettima from the northeast elected as vice president, the race for the senate president is open to candidates from all of the other four geo-political zones. Ranking senators from the northwest, south-south, southeast and north central geo-political zones are already positioning themselves for the coveted position, three months before elections are due.

Among those who have already thrown their hats into the ring for the senate presidency include Senators Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State,  Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, Osita Isunazo of Imo State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. On Friday, president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu met with the national working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to decide on how to resolve the matter.

 Apparently, at the meeting which took place at Defence House in Abuja, Asiwaju Tinubu told party leaders of his preference for Senator Akpabio as the 10th senate president with Senator Jibrin Barau serving as his deputy. Senator Akpabio represents Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, while Senator Barau represents the Kano North Senatorial District.

However, the PDP senators-elect have rejected the choice, saying Senator Akpabio is not in the good books of the party. Senator Akpabio used to be a member of the PDP where he was elected to serve as the senate minority leader despite being a first timer but he suddenly dumped the party and defected to the PDP.

One PDP senator said: “The choice of Akpabio is not acceptable to us. We are the major opposition in the 10th Senate and APC should listen to us. We don’t want Akpabio.”

“Only three out of 36 PDP senators are backing Akpabio which I know and they are from Rivers State where Governor Nyesom Wike has urged them to support him. He is offering us money but we don’t want his money because he is not principled.

"Akpabio will eventually sell out if allowed to be the senate president. Remember what he did in 2018/19 when the PDP honoured him as a first-timer in the senate by giving him an exalted position of minority leader.

"Without any just cause, save for his pocket and selfish interest, he abandoned the PDP midstream and joined APC. He was rewarded with a ministerial position, so we can’t trust such a person as a senate president, he is unstable.”