Although the president-elect, Bola Tinubu had previously said he had no anointed candidate, multiple sources at a strategic meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja revealed that former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio is the anointed candidate for the Senate President, while the senator representing Kano North Senatorial District, Barau Jubrin; was pencilled for the Deputy Senate President.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Tuesday’s meeting was between Tinubu; members of the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) National Working Commitee (NWC), and contestants for the position of the Senate presidency and House of Representatives Speakership.
According to sources, Akpabio was hailed to have done a lot for the party including shelving his presidential ambition for Tinubu when he stepped down for him at the APC primary elections.
“Akpabio was favoured because of his contributions to the party including stepping down for the president-elect during the primary elections.
“He was also said to have delivered parts of South-South to the president-elect during the February 25 elections. The pairing was deliberate; Barau would likely get the position of the Deputy Senate President,” one of the sources said.
This newspaper reports that ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly (NASS) in June, the ruling party might release its zoning plan for leadership positions in the 10th Assembly this week.