Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, is not the “anointed” candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for senate president of the 10th national assembly, according to Senator Ali Ndume.
In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, the senator for Borno South stated that Akpabio is merely the preferred candidate of the party.
As leaders of the 10th national assembly, the APC nominated Akpabio and Abbas Tajudeen, a ranking member of the house of Representatives.
Akpabio was nominated for the position of senate president, while Tajudeen was endorsed for the position of house speaker.
The announcement was made after two months of intense political manoeuvring by some newly-elected members of the national assembly.
In response to the party’s declaration, Ndume stated that referring to Akpabio as the anointed candidate would imply a “fait accompli” and that the term does not accurately reflect the situation.
Ndume, who had also expressed interest in the position, stated that senators must still vote to determine the leader of the crimson chamber.
“I do not believe anointed is the correct term. It would be more accurate to say that Akpabio is the preferred candidate of the APC,” he said.
“Not designated, but favoured candidate. Because if it were consecrated, it would be a done deal, which is not the case. We must enter the chamber and vote, and the outcome is arbitrary.
As president of the Senate, Akpabio will be first among equals. It will require the remaining 108 senators to restore the Senate’s credibility.”
