Ahead of the 10th National Assembly’s inauguration and the election of presiding officers on Tuesday, there is a sense of unease in Senator Godswill Akpabio’s camp, as he is the preferred candidate of President Bola Tinubu for the position of Senate President.
In fact, a reliable source has revealed that a vote in the Senate chamber on Tuesday could potentially be influenced with sums ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 or even more.
The source disclosed that some of the newly elected senators are playing a double game, accepting money from both contending camps and aligning themselves with both sides.
According to the source, a member of the Stability Group, which supports the Akpabio-Barau Jibrin ticket, some senators-elect who claim to be working for the Stability Group have been attending secret meetings with the main rival of Senator Akpabio, Senator Abdul Aziz Yari from Zamfara West.
The source further revealed that some lawmakers who have signed up as Akpabio supporters have also pledged their loyalty to Yari’s camp.
“I don’t know what is happening on the other side, but I am aware that some people who claim to be with us have also signed up for Yari. It saddens me that senators are selling their signatures for amounts between $5,000 and $10,000. They are not concerned about Yari’s agenda; they are only interested in his money,” lamented the lawmaker.
Despite this situation, the Stability Group remains committed to engaging with other senators to secure their support for the Akpabio-Jibrin ticket.
It has also been noted that Yari, Akpabio’s main rival, who has vowed not to step down for the APC’s favored candidate, continues to engage in consultations.
Reports indicate that the former governor of Zamfara State has gained the commitment of some opposition lawmakers from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Additionally, despite the intervention of former Kano State governor and NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the senators-elect from his party are aligned with Senator Yari.
During the week, Suleiman Kawu, the senator-elect for Kano South representing NNPP, expressed his discontent with the zoning arrangement of the ruling APC and the announcement of favored candidates.
Kawu emphasized to journalists that he and his colleagues are determined to thwart what they perceive as an attempt to impose the presidency’s preferred candidates on the legislature.
