posted June 12, 2023
The high-level horse trading that’s fuelling the battle for who becomes the president of the Senate when President Tinubu inaugurates the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday, has reached a crescendo of brazen resolve.
Sources close to the inner workings of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, revealed that Party leadership is not leaving any stone unturned in the plan to install candidates approved by the national working committee, NWC, and the presidency.
The presidency and the NWC are said to have narrowed the race to former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio as their preferred candidate for the president of the senate.
However, feelers revealed that the majority of the APC senators on Monday, have rallied behind the Senators Abdulaziz Yari/Orji Kalu ticket.
To forestall any surprises, particularly the favored emergence of Yari, it was learned that plans are afoot to arrest the former Zamfara Governor and his supporters to take them out of circulation temporarily until the anointed candidates of the party have emerged.
According to back channel sources, the Yari/Kalu ticket is said to currently boast of over 62 senators as of Monday and this is said to be giving the APC leadership nightmare.
To forestall any untoward development akin to the ‘Saraki Situation of 2015’, the party is said to be thinking of a hard tackle against Yari by containing him.
Our source also stated that the former NDDC Executive Director, Dr. Cairo Ojugboh, and former NGF DG, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu who are spearheading the campaign for the Yari/Kalu ticket from outside, may also be targeted for arrest.
It was learned that President Tinubu had endorsed the Akpabio ticket actively supported by his Vice, Alhaji Kashim Shettima. But the party’s choice has been defiantly challenged by several senators who are rooting for the emergence of the Yari’Kalu ticket.
Note: This is a developing story and may be updated.