10th NASS: Intrigues that trailed Akpabio, Abbas’ path to victory

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi, Musa Adamu and Christiana Ekpa

The National Assembly election has come and gone, with Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas emerging victorious. But the intrigues and scheming that led to the victory remain fresh in the minds of political observers. In this report, Peoples Daily correspondents take a review of the journey to the victory.

How the exercise commenced and ended in Senate

In the Senate, as early as 8am, all the senators were already seated, while security operatives overran the premises of the National Assembly, in preparation for the exercise. Gaining entrance into the parliament was not just hectic but also frightening.

On the floor of the Senate, the National Assembly Clark, Sani Magaji Tambawal, who read the letter from the President convening the 10th National Assembly, called for nomination of contestants.

At this juncture, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) moved a motion nominating Akpabio, while Solomon Olamilekan (APC Ogun West) seconded the motion.

However, when the Clark called for further nominations, Elisha Abbo (APC Adamawa North) moved a motion nominating Abdul-Azeez Yari (APC, Zamfara South), but before that motion could be seconded, Senator Tahir Mongunu (APC, Borno North) opposed the motion on the ground that in line with senate standing order, Yari, being a first time senator, is not qualified to contest for Senate President.

Note that before the election day, there were rumors that the security operatives would arrest Yari or prevent him from entering the chambers, as a way to stop him from participating in the election.

It was also in the public knowledge that the President and some APC governors mounted pressure on Yari to suspend his ambition and step down, of which he remained adamant.

With this charged and volatile circumstance in the chamber, the opposition against his nomination by Mongunu shattered the expectation of a peaceful contest, though they later reconciled, as the Clark allowed Yari’s nomination to stand.

No gain saying the fact that tension rose and nerves flared up barely to the commencement of the exercise, even as supporters of Akpabio, including Olamilekan, Mongunu, Ndume, Dave Umahi, among others, continued to vehemently oppose the nomination of Sen. Yari by Elisha Abbo.

This opposition against Yari threw the chamber into chaos for a while, before the National Assembly Clark, Sani Magaji Tambawal, managed to restore otherliness. As nomination became closed, the stage was set for a straight contest between Yari and Akpabio.

Apparently assuming the rallying point of the opposition lawmakers-elect and aggrieved APC senators who were not comfortable with the zoning formula of the party, Yari eventually caved in to the superior numbers of Akpabio supporters, after about two hours secret balloting.

Immediately after he was announced winner by the returning officer, some APC governors who had stormed the Senate to witness the election, including: Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Abdullahi Sue of Nasarawa, Dapo Abiodum of Ogun, Babajide San-Nwolu of Lagos, among others, as well as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and former Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje, and APC National chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, exchange pleasantries with him.

Recall that before yesterday, President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) had signified interest in the candidature of Akpabio and Barau as their preferred candidates for both Senate President and Deputy.

However, this choice of the President and APC was not accepted by some northern senators and Northern political stakeholders, including Northern Elders Forum (NEF), who felt marginalised and aggrieved, hence they united behind Yari and Sani Musa to emerge Senate President and Deputy.

Incidentally, senator Jibril emerged unopposed as his main challenger, Sani Musa shelved his ambition at the last minute, while Yari went on with the contest.

Barau Jibril was nominated by former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, while Kwara Central senator, Salihu Mustapher seconded the motion.

Meanwhile, in his acceptance speech after his victory, Akpabio thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in his capacity to lead the 10th Senate, even as he promised to be one among the 109 Senators.

He said his tenure will focus on gender inclusion, sustaining economic and Social welfare and development of the country, especially the January-December budge calendar legacy of the 9th National Assembly.

While urging his colleagues to feel free to approach him on any issue, he expressed confidence that it is a new dawn for the country, having on board as President, a leader who was able to raise the revenue of Lagos State to an enviable heights it is today.

The power tussle for the just Elected position for the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly may have been the tense, yet a free warfare Assembly election since the invent of democracy in 1999, as it stand to be one the most eventful, power packed Assembly election with different Caucuses, group and traditional rulers interference.

Who became the winner of the just concluded last Tuesday Election was not clear until the dieing minute when the two Leading Aspirates namely Honourable Muktar Betara Aliyu (APC-Borno) and Honourable Yusuf Gagdi stepped down for the All Progressive Congress (APC) preffered Candidate and the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas

The drama, gang ups, politics of interest played in the process of the election have significant role in creating a history as the result announced by the Clerk of National Assembly indicate that this is the first time in history a Speaker will poll 353 votes of the 359 Members Present during the Inauguration.

The result announced by Clerk for the shows that out of total number of 359 Members present during the inauguration, 353 voted for Abbas, Wase secured three votes while Sani Jaji also polled three votes.

The process of the election witnessed one of the G6 aspirants, Honourable Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau) and other memberselect from Plateau State, who are kinsmen to Wase, voted en-masse for Abbas. In the same vein, aside from Jaji, who voted for himself, all the six members-elect from Zamfara State voted for Abbas.

Just as the leading aspirants and members of the G6 coalition, namely Honourable Muktar Betara Aliyu (APCBorno) and Honourable Yusuf Gagdi voted for Abbas, as It would be recalled that both aspirants after series of meetings with President Tinubu and vice president, Kashim Shettima agreed to drop their speakership ambitions and adopted Abbas.

The preffered candidate of the APC, Honourable Abbas (APC-Kaduna) emerged as the Speaker of the 10th session of the House. In the same vein, Honourable Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) emerged as Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly unopposed. He was nominated by Honourable Babajimi Benson.

It was as also a very dramatic, moment as Honourable Akinremi Olaide (APC-Oyo) who is the Director General for Honourable Sani Jaji, voted for Honourable Abbas.

The deputy Clerk for the National Assembly (DCNA), Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, who read the president’s proclamation had announced that the method of election would be by open ballot as prescribed by the 10th edition of the Standing Order, Order Cont. on next page