All Progressives Congress (APC) preferred candidate for the 10th National Assembly Senate Presidency and immediate past minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has visited Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to solicit his support for his election on the floor of the Senate in June.
Akpabio and Senator Barau Jibrin from North West geopolitical zone also the preferred for deputy Senate position who were accompanied yesterday by senators-elect across party divides who have signed to support his bid said they have on their side 69 senators who have elected to support his ticket as Senate president.
Akpabio said the meeting with Sanwo-Olu was in consultation to build up support, stating that, “All prayer and no works would not be good.”.
He said his support base in the Senate is increasing on a daily basis, adding that he expects no less than 85 to 86 signatures before June when the election at the Senate would take place.
“This is multidimensional and nationalistic in all ramifications and that is the same way Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected by all Nigerians across party lines, sectional, religious lines and divide,” he said.
He said there was hardly anything the group would have done without Sanwo-Olu’s knowledge, adding that the assurance is a confidence that those who have not agreed yet to the decision are coming to agree.
“Today, we have about 69 in numbers and it is still growing. We believe by June we expect this group two rise about 85/86 and all I know is that we are going to win,” he said.
In his speech, Governor Sanwo-Olu said he hoped the 10th Assembly would be about, “Shaping new course, breaking records” to surpass and improve on the antecedents of the 9th Assembly.
He described the group of members-elect across party divides as “a well thought out group.”
He extended a warm embrace to the Senators-elect, saying they have “displayed a high sense of responsibility and that’s what had brought you thus far.”
The governor who assured them of Lagos State support charged them upon inauguration to work for the good of the people who have elected them as their representatives, so they can reap the dividends of democracy.
“We know that indeed you are best in class because the last elections indeed shows that you have to be good to your people for you to have emerged successful.”
So I can tell you that whatever part of the country you just have emerged from you are best in class and I’m sure your people must have seen something outstanding in all of you and that brings me to the fact that you cannot bring down that trust and the expectations of your people,” he said.