Tag: Senate

“I feel betrayed but life continues”, Yari speaks on losing senate presidency seat to Akpabio

Senator Abdulaziz Yari has opened up after losing the senate presidency seat to Senator Godswill Akpabio, accusing senators of betraying him. Recall that Senator Akpabio representing Akwa Ibom North-West District won the senate presidency seat of the 10th National Assembly. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio Akpabio defeated his opponent Abdulaziz Yari, with votes from the lawmakers, thereby making him the Senate President. His victory was announced by the clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal Magaji who said Akpabio emerged the winner with 63 votes leaving Yari with 46 votes. However, Yari said he was hoping to get 61 out of the 109 votes which could have seen him emerge as the Senate President. Speaking during an interview with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Yari said: “Yes, I can say there was a betrayal. That’s the truth because as we were taking stock as of 3 am, Monday-Tuesday election, we took stock of over 76. “But as usual, human beings, we thought we are going to get a pullout of about 15, which we will have a comfortable 61 to win the election. “But it became the reverse, which only God knows what happened. So, I feel betrayed but life continues and it’s a cycle.” The 10th National Assembly was inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, two days after the lifespan of the 9th National Assembly. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 10th Senate won 57 seats while the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 29 seats. Others include All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 1; Labour Party (LP) – 6; New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – 2; Social Democratic Party (SDP) – 2, and Young Progressive Party (YPP) – 1.

How Tinubu sneaked out, begged senators to elect Akpabio as Senate President ― Ali Ndume

How Tinubu sneaked out, begged senators to vote Akpabio as Senate President ― Ali Ndume

The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Senator Ali Ndume has disclosed how President Bola Tinubu had to make calls, visit and beg some people for Senator Godswill Akpabio to emerge as the Senate President. Ndume said this while speaking on the role Tinubu played in ensuring the preferred candidates of the APC emerged victorious during the election of principal officers of the 10th National Assembly which took place in Abuja on Tuesday. President Tinubu, Hope Uzodinma and Godswill Akpabio Recall that Godswill Akpabio was on Tuesday elected Senate president after polling 63 votes to defeat Abdulazeez Yari, who garnered 46 votes. The lawmaker representing Zaria constituency in Kaduna, Tajudeen Abbas, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Benjamin Kalu from Abia state, was elected deputy. Ndume while reacting to Akpabio’s victor said Tinubu is an “experienced” politician, adding that he convinced many lawmakers to support his preferred candidates. “When I contested last time (2019), everybody was on the other side because the party and president endorsed Ahmad Lawan,” he said. “It is almost a repetition of the same thing, the party and the president had a preferred candidate but this president (Tinubu) is an experienced politician who played a lot of politics. “He deployed his foot soldiers to compliment our (campaign team of Akpabio) efforts and that made a difference. The vice president assisted us. “He called some people. He even went to some people. It is politics. He sneaked out to visit some people and begged them to support. He has his reasons and they were convincing.”

AKPABIO Ali begged elect Ndume President Senate senators sneaked TINUBU

Why Senate Presidency should’ve gone to a Northern Christian ― Reno Omokri

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has reacted to the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the 10th Senate president of the National Assembly, saying that the seat of the Senate President should have gone to a Northern Christian so as to balance the religious and regional factors. GistReel reports that Senator Akpabio defeated his opponent Abdulaziz Yari, with votes from the lawmakers, thereby making him the Senate President. Senate Presient-elect, Godswill Akpabio His victory was announced by the clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal Magaji who said Akpabio emerged the winner with 63 votes leaving his rival with 46 votes. Akpabio is the first South-Southerner to be elected President of the Senate since Nigeria got its independence in 1960. Reacting to this via his official Instagram page, Reno Omokri wrote, ‘‘Ideally, the Senate Presidency should have gone to a Northern Christian to balance both the religious and regional factors. Reno Omokri “That way, Northerners would have felt a sense of representation, and Christians would still feel comfortable. Let us learn from our history instead of repeating history and accusing history of repeating itself. “We have a Southern President and Chief Justice as heads of the Executive and Judiciary. As a result, the head of the Legislature ought to have been a Northerner. Anytime there is an imbalance in the three arms of Government, Nigeria has always faced political instability. Sharing power equitably is the only antidote to that volatility.”

Christian Northern Omokri PRESIDENCY Reno Senate shouldve

Akpabio emerges President of the 10th Senate

Senator Godwsill Akpabio representing Akwa Ibom North-West District has won the leadership position of the 10th National Assembly. Senator Akpabio defeated his opponent Abdulaziz Yari, with votes from the lawmakers, thereby making him the Senate President. Senate Presient-elect, Godswill Akpabio His victory was announced by the clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal Magaji who said Akpabio emerged the winner with 63 votes leaving his rival with 46 votes. Akpabio is the first South-Southerner to be elected President of the Senate since Nigeria got its independence in 1960. GistReel reports that in the last general election, the APC party secured the majority of seats in the green chamber with over 170, followed by the PDP with over 100, the Labour Party with over 35, and the New Nigeria People’s Party with about 20. Many APC lawmakers expressed interest in becoming the next Speaker of the House or Senate President, including Benjamin Kalu, Ahmed Wase, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Yusuf Gagdi, Aliyu Betara, Tajudeen Abbas, Abdulraheem Olawuyi, Sani Jaji, Princess Onuoha, Abdulaziz Yari, Orji Kalu, and Godswill Akpabio. However, the APC officially zoned the Senate President to the South-South (Akpabio), Deputy Senate President to the North-West (Barau Jibrin), Speaker position to the North-West (Abass), and Deputy Speaker to the South-East (Kalu). Some APC hopefuls rejected the party’s position and called for a review of the formula to include the North Central geopolitical zone and not give two positions to the North-West.

10th AKPABIO emerges President Senate

“Deal to make Akpabio president of senate sealed a day before APC presidential primary” ― Source

"Deal to make Akpabio president of senate sealed a day before APC presidential primaries" ― Source

Sources close to President Bola Tinubu have disclosed that the deal to make former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio president of the senate was sealed a day before the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress. GistReel reports that the presidential primary, which was held at the Eagles Square in Abuja between June 6 and 8, 2022, had Tinubu, Akpabio, Rotimi Amaechi, Yemi Osinbajo and others as aspirants.

Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio According to Sunday PUNCH, the source said Bola Tinubu met with Akpabio a day before the primary and approached him to step down for him and said if the former governor would agree, it would send a positive signal to the audience and other aspirants since Akpabio would be the first aspirant to be invited to the podium to speak. According to the source Akpabio agreed but said he needed to know what would be his ‘gain’ since he had resigned as a minister and was not a senatorial aspirant. He further said, “Tinubu assured him that he would be supported to emerge as the President of the Senate. As they were speaking, an influential woman (name withheld) also came in. That was how the deal was sealed.”

AKPABIO APC day deal President presidential Primary sealed Senate source

“I’m not a thief”, Orji Kalu cries at valedictory session to mark end of 9th Senate (Video)

The Chief Whip of the outgoing 9th Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on Saturday, during the Valedictory session to mark the end of the 9th Senate cried out for being called a thief in the country despite his contribution to nation-building, saying that Nigeria has not been fair to its leaders and citizens. The former Abia State governor thanked the 9th Senate for standing by him during his difficult times.

Chief Whip of the outgoing 9th Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu He said, “When I had a problem, most of the Senators stood by me. We went through a difficult period,” Kalu said during an emotional speech. “Before I went into politics, I can buy anything I wanted to buy. I am not a thief. “People I gave transport money to Victoria Island (VI) are now in wealth and living as saints while I am being called a thief. The 9th Senate having completed its four-year term is at the moment carrying out a Valedictory session where the Senators are having the opportunity to speak their minds on their stay in the Upper Chamber The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan who declared the event opened said that the session was a special one against the backdrop that it would be used by the Senators to make remarks on the journey that started on 11th June 2019 and ended today. The motion to begin the process was moved by the leader of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, APC, Sokoto East to start the valedictory session to mark the end of the 9th Senate, the motion was seconded by the Minority leader, Senator Philip Aduda, PDP, FCT. Leading the presentation, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, APC, Delta Central who urged the returning Senators to support the incoming leaders of the Senate to achieve good governance, said that he is satisfied with his conscience that the 9th Senate returned the annual budgeting cycles from January to December, passed the Petroleum Industry Act and ensured that the Electoral Act 2023 is there for the conduct of credible elections. In his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC, Borno Central told the Senators- elect to have in their minds that the stability of Nigeria was greater than the stability of their pockets and asked them to vote wisely during the election of Presiding officers for the progress of the country.

Vice President Kashim Shettima Shettima said, “As we bid farewell to this chapter, let us remember that our journey has just begun. For some of us, a new chapter beckons. As the mantle of leadership passes into fresh hands, those who will continue this noble calling, I extend my sincere congratulations. “To my colleagues who will depart this chamber, I address you not as colleagues left behind, but as friends who have become an integral part of my history. “We have served shoulder to shoulder in the face of adversity and worked relentlessly for the betterment of our nation. “To my incoming colleagues, I will leave you with a parable, ‘the stability of this nation is superior to the stability of our pockets’. On Tuesday, let us vote wisely, let us vote for the Nigerian nation.” Watch Orji Kalu’s video below: 9th Senate: Orji Kalu cries out “I am not a thief, this country is not fair to some of us” pic.twitter.com/VutdoOee9e — AIT (@AIT_Online) June 10, 2023

9th cries Kalu Mark Orji Senate SESSION thief valedictory Video

Why a Christian from South should be next Senate President ― Edwin Clark

Foremost stakeholder, Chief Edwin Clark, the convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has given reasons why a Christian senator from the southern region of the country should be elected as the next senate president of the 10th national assembly. Edwin Clark was once a councillor in 1953 and a commissioner in the Government of the Midwest, minister under General Yakubu Gowon and senator in the Second Republic. Stating why a Christian from the South should be the next senate president, Clark said the national assembly should work to unite the country and ensure that citizens trust one another. He went on to say that it’s time to heal the land, and in so doing, what he expects of the 10th Senate is to give the position of the senate president to a Christian senator from the southern part of the country. He said, “It is your duty as the legislative arm of government to produce during your term, a united country where the citizens genuinely trust one another, and regard themselves as equal citizens and as brothers and sisters,” he said. “It is time to heal our land, and in so doing, what I expect of the 10th Senate is to give the position of the senate president to a Christian senator from the southern part of the country.” Recall that Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, was chosen by its party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be senate president but Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, and Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip of the senate, have insisted on contesting the position with him.

Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio Clark also condemned Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna over his comment that the APC used religion to win the presidential election. Clark said, “The insensitive, irresponsible, uncouth and arrogant statement credited to Nasir El-Rufai, on his plan to impose the Islamic religion on the country, lasting for the next 20 years, is still causing bad blood,” he added. “It is unthinkable how someone who describes himself as a leader, could utter such a statement, except to cause confusion, which is very obvious that he benefits from such confusion. Because there is no other way of explaining such crass behaviour and statement.” A few days ago, el-Rufai came under fire for saying that religion was used to win the 2023 presidential election and God made Asiwaju victorious. Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state The former governor said, “Religion was used, God made Asiwaju victorious. What we did in Kaduna has now been done in the country. No liar who is going to contest using the politics of Christianity will ever win any election again. Peter Obi tried and see how he ended. We’ve tackled it. “Since Asiwaju won the election CAN has been quiet. That is how there will be peace in the country. If this is done again and again and again everything will….. wallahi (swearing) that was what we did. And myself and others, we think we have done our part, Asiwaju has won the election, so our job is done. Our appeal to you is to pray for him to find good people to work with him.”

Christian Clark Edwin President Senate South

Pastors, Bishops endorse Yari for Senate President, Ignore Akpabio

A group of pastors and bishops have endorsed Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara state, for the position of senate president, ignoring Senator Godswill Akpabio who’s a Christian. The Pastors and Bishops under the umbrella of the Christian Organisation of Nigeria (CON), said Yari has the capacity to be the senate president adding that they are yet to see a senate president hopeful like Yari.

Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara state Addressing a press conference in Abuja on behalf of the group, on Thursday, Blessing Fashola, a bishop of the Celestial Church, said a Christian must not be nominated as senate president because no Christian from the lot contesting is capable. He said, “The hallowed chambers of the senate is where Nigeria must speak as one united and indivisible entity, hence every religious, ethnic and racial division must be highly discouraged,” he said. “After a critical assessment of all the contestants irrespective of their religious divide, we have chosen to endorse Abdulaziz Yari because he is the most capable. “CON is apolitical and does not share the myopic reasoning that a Christian must be endorsed because we do not see any Christian from the lot contesting that is more capable than Sen Yari. “We must admit that what the country needs at this point are leaders with capacity, regardless of ethnic and religious affiliations. Nigeria needs leaders that understand the dynamic nature of the country, which can only be brought about through hands-on experience in governance. “Senator Yari’s credentials speak volumes of a man on a mission to contribute to sustainable growth and development. He has demonstrated competence and capacity and has built bridges across the divide.”

AKPABIO Bishops endorse Ignore Pastors President Senate Yari

How I will move Nigeria forward as Senate President ― Yari

The former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari, APC, Zamfara West declared on Wednesday that if elected as the Senate President, he would join forces with President Bola Tinubu to move Nigeria forward. The inauguration of the 10th National Assembly will take place June 13, and Yari who is a strong contender alongside Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of President of the 10th Senate promises that if given the opportunity to serve as Senate President, he would ensure that Nigeria comes first while the interest of the party comes second. Speaking on behalf of the Senate Presidential hopeful, former Deputy Majority leader, Senator-elect, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central who addressed journalists in Abuja noted that Yari wishes to achieve this by having a stable Senate and a stable National Assembly. According to Ningi, there are at least 67 senators-elect who have thrown their weight behind Abdulaziz Yari to occupy the office of the Senate President, with more on their way. Speaking on how he would help move Nigeria forward, Yari said, “Under my leadership, the 10th Senate will have a cordial and purposeful relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver his vision for a united and prosperous Nigeria. “I and President Tinubu have come a long way and understand each other, I promise to at all times give President Tinubu helping hands in moving this country forward. “I will aggregate opinions to ensure that Nigeria comes first and party come second,” he said. Yari further noted that he possesses the requisite experience and quality to lead the National Assembly to achieve cordial and complementary relationships with other arms of government, particularly, the Executive. Speaking further on his sterling qualities, Yari said “I have strong connections across the 36 states and understand the nuances of the nation. “I am assuring you that I have what it takes to make a difference . We will build constant synergy to unify our nation”.

Move Nigeria President Senate Yari

Izunaso, Kalu and South East’s Quest for Senate Presidency

Following the successful swearing-in of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice on May 29, 2023, Izunaso Kalu and South East’s Quest for Senate Presidency. The leadership of the two chambers is at the centre of issues that are gathering traction and that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been struggling to settle since the president’s inauguration. The party’s candidates are likely to be the primary officers in both chambers. However, attention is focused more on who holds the job of President of the Senate, the country’s third highest position.

Izunaso Kalu and South East’s Quest for Senate Presidency. Photo Credit: @thenigeriansenate: Instagram If the zoning arrangement given by the party is any indication, one of the senators from the South-east or South-south geopolitical zones will be appointed. ALSO READ: “Akpabio will be next senate president” — Governor Ganduje The competition is already getting traction, with contestants from both regions exhibiting interest in the seat. Former governors of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio of the South-South, Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, and Senator Osita Izunaso of the South-East have all expressed their intentions to run for the position. While Akpabio and his supporters have argued that the zone has never held the position since the current administration and that the South-east has held the position for four years, the Southeast has insisted that taking the position away from the zone would mean deepening the party’s alleged marginalization of the zone. Proponents of this position refer to an established structure that has always permitted the zone to produce the President of the Senate whenever the Presidency has moved to the Southwest, as well as the need to integrate the zone within the party. They further argue that since the party’s formation, the South-South has produced the national leadership, among other coveted positions. This school of thought also believes that permitting the South-east to produce the next Senate President was the quickest method to entrench the party in the region, especially given the region’s rejection of the PDP in the past elections and the Labour Party’s breakthroughs. They say that because the party now controls two states in the zone, it is necessary to continue encouraging the region. READ MORE: Presidential Tribunal : Obi tenders 136 exhibits from 6 States Including Lagos and Edo However, there are strong indications that Izunaso will win the office if it is assigned to the Southeast area. This is because, unlike Kalu, he has been with the party since its start and hence appears more sellable. According to sources, the Imo West senator, a former journalist, is a seasoned politician. He was a Special Assistant to former Governor Achike Udenwa on media and information when he became the APC’s first National Organising Secretary. Following his appointment to the Udenwa administration, he was elected to the House of Representatives to represent the Oguta/Ohaji Egbema/Oru West federal constituency on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform. Udenwa allegedly used him to block Senator Arthur Nzeribe, who had served the constituency since 1979, from remaining in the Senate after only one term in the Green Chamber. He served as the senator for Imo West from 2007 until 2011. He attempted to reclaim his Senate seat but was denied because the Supreme Court declared that the current governor of the state, Hope Uzodinma, was the genuine candidate of the PDP in the election. Angered by the situation, Izunaso abandoned the PDP in 2011 to form the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) alongside Chief Rochas Okorocha. He was one of the key figures who followed the Okorocha side to the APC merger. As a result, he was elected as the party’s National Organising Secretary, a position that enabled him to re-launch his Senate bid in 2015, however, he was beaten by Uzodimma. He also ran for the seat again in 2019 on the APGA platform, finishing third behind APC’s Okorocha and PDP’s Jones Onyereri. Following his defeat, he returned to the APC to help Uzodinma expand the party. In 2023, his commitment gained him the senatorial ticket of the party, and he was proclaimed the winner of the Imo West senate election. Another element that may increase his chances of being apprehended is that he has no cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or any criminal cases at all. His state, Imo, is also one of the two APC-controlled states in the South-east. Akpabio and Kalu’s states, Akwa Ibom and Abia, are controlled by the PDP and the Labour Party, respectively. The lawyer-turned-politician, who was born on October 30, 1966, is reported to have a close working connection with Uzodinma. According to the analysts, Uzodinma will pull the necessary strings on his behalf to highlight his importance in the party as well as his leadership of the APC in the Southeast area. They also stated that knowing how popular and consistent Izunaso has become in Imo State politics over the years, Uzodinma would have to mobilize support for him, knowing that victory for him would help his re-election chances in the state’s governorship race in November. He was chosen chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) last Wednesday. The Forum is made up of governors elected on the APC platform, and it acts as a forum for collaboration, policy creation, and experience sharing among members. What this will do to Izunaso’s senate presidency aspiration is create an opportunity for Uzodinma to rally his colleagues behind the cause.

Easts Izunaso Kalu PRESIDENCY Quest Senate South