By Sulieman Abdullahi Suleiman
In the build-up to the 2023 general elections, the party had to make crucial decisions regarding the leadership of the National Assembly.
One of the most significant decisions was the choice of the Senate President. There were several candidates vying for the position, including Senator Abdulaziz Yari and Mr Godswill Akpabio.
However, the APC eventually settled for Senator Akpabio and Barau Jibrin as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.
In this write up, I will analyze the implications of the APC decision for Akpabio as Senate President and Barau Jibrin as his deputy, and how that stand gave Yari and Orji Uzo Kalu an upper hand of becoming Senate and Deputy Senate President of the 10th Senate.
Background
Goodswill Akpabio was a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and a serving senator representing the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District. He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but defected to the APC in August 2018. His defection was trailed with a lot of curruption allegations, despite been a prominent member.
When the APC won the Febuary 2023 general elections, there was a scramble for the leadership of the National Assembly. The APC had a clear majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, but there were still disagreements among party members on who should be the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Implications of the APC decision for Akpabio as Senate President
Akpabio was one of the front-runners for the position of Senate President. He had a lot of support from his colleagues in the Senate, and his defection to the APC was seen as a significant gain for the party. However, his interest was opposed by many APC senators who settled for Senator Abdulazizi Yari, as a more suitable candidate.
Akpabio’s defection was seen by some as a betrayal of the PDP, and the APC might have been wary of rewarding such behavior.
It was a sign that the APC was willing to put the interests of the party above the interests of individuals. Akpabio was a chosing as Senate President and Barau as his Deputy because he was seen as a stooge candidate. This decision showed that the APC took the decisions not minding it implication to the party.
Prominent candidates suitable for the 10th senate president and deputy Senate president are former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzo Kalu.
Yari was a senator-elect representing the Zamfara West Senatorial District. He was a member of the APC and had the backing of some party leaders and about 78% of the senate.
Orji Uzo Kalu, on the other hand, had been a vocal supporter of the APC and was seen as a loyal party member. His candidacy for the position of Deputy Senate President was a best option for the party leaders and the presidency to support.
If given the mandate Sen. Yari and Kalu will leverage their political experience and connections to win the support of party leaders. They were also able to use their positions as new senators to build relationships with their colleagues in the Senate. This helped to increase their chances of winning the support of other senators in the race for the Senate leadership positions.
Furthermore, the emergence of Yari and Kalu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively also has positive implications for their home states and regions. If Abdulazizi Yari emergences as Senate President was that will boost for the Northwest region, which had not produced a Senate President since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
On the other hand, Kalu’s emergence as Deputy Senate President is seen as a boost for the Southeast region, which had also not produced a Senate President since 1999. Their emergence was also seen as a reflection of the growing influence of former governors in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Both Yari and Kalu were former governors, and their experience as former chief executives of their states was seen as an asset in their bid for the Senate leadership positions. This trend of former governors seeking higher political offices has become a common feature in Nigerian politics, and it highlights the importance of political experience and connections in Nigeria’s political system.
In conclusion, the APC’s decision not to choose Godswill Akpabio as Senate President had several implications for him and the party. However, it paved the way for the emergence of Yari and Kalu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively. This decision had implications for their home states and regions and highlighted the importance of political experience and connections in Nigeria’s political landscape.
