Senate Presidency: Akpabio Lobbies NNPP, LP, Meets Chairmen

The anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Senate presidency, Sen Godswill Akpabio, has initiated talks with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Labour Party (LP) with a view to wooing their members to vote for him to be the forthcoming 10th National Assembly elections.

This came barely 24 hours after national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, had cautioned the party’s endorsed candidates and Senators not to take chances by going late to the inauguration of the 10th Assembly billed to hold in June.

Akpabio and his anointed deputy, Sen Barau Jibrin, had led 38 other APC Senators under the aegis of Stability Group to a meeting with the party’s National Working Committee on Tuesday.

The Stability Group is working to promote the Senators Godswill Akpabio- Barau Jibrin ticket for the leadership of the 10th Senate.

Addressing the National Working Committee of the NNPP led by its acting national chairman, Abba -Kawu Ali, Akpabio said yesterday that the Stability Group is determined to secure the support of leadership of the opposition parties ahead of June 13 Inauguration.

He said, “Membership of the Stability Group cuts across party lines and we are doing extensive consultations. We have never had a situation where we have 8 political parties like we are going to have in the 10th National Assembly.

“In the House, we are blind to party affiliations and that’s why we are moving to meet our leaders. I thank you for receiving us. I want to thank your national leader, Kwankwaso for the meeting he is having with our president-elect, Bola Tinubu, and I hope the meeting will be fruitful for the progress of the nation.”

On his part, the Senator representing Borno South and director-general of the Akpabio Campaign Organisation, Ali Ndume said his group has secured signatures of 69 members backing the aspiration of the Akpabio-Jubrin ticket.

“We want you to support this stability group. We have 69 who have signed. It isn’t about Akpabio or Jibrin. What the country needs now is stability and that’s why we called the group Stability Group,” Ndume stated.

In his response, acting national chairman of the NNPP described the Akpabio- Jibrin ticket as a formidable one, assuring the duo of the support of the lawmakers on the platform of his party.

He said, “I know you are a formidable team. As governor of Akwa Ibom State, we know how you performed. We know you are competent. So, we are supporting you based on your record. We will support your ambition to be the president of the 10th National Assembly. But I urge your team not to fail Nigerians, especially the youth in the area of employment.”

Also, addressing members of the Stability Group at his party national secretariat, the national chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended the Stability Group for extending hands of fellowship to opposition parties.

Abure said, “It is usually uncommon for political parties in power to consider accommodating the opposition. It is an indication that our democracy is growing. I want to say very clearly that in most of our engagement with our Senators, we haven’t given them any directives. We don’t want to be dictating to them on where they should go. Two of my Senators are here. Ireti Kingibe isn’t here but we shall whisper to her.

“We need a vibrant legislature to promote our democracy; we hope yours will be a departure from what we have. Every government policy must be such that would affect our people positively. The Constitution, in chapter two, states that welfare of the people and security shall be the primary responsibility of the government. My appeal is that we give attention to the welfare of Nigerians and the leadership of the Senate can help to make that a national priority .”

The LP chairman however restated his party’s reservations to the outcome of the last general election.

“We aren’t comfortable with the processes leading to the victory of your candidate. This isn’t the forum to ventilate that but I need to put that on record. I need to correct the impression that we are supporting Asiwaju. For us, it is a no go area but we have no doubt in Akpabio’s capacity to lead the Senate.”