By Ogochukwu Isioma
President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has reportedly anointed Akwa Ibom State’s former governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as his preferred candidate for Senate Presidency.
Tinubu has also reportedly tipped the Senator representing Kano North Senatorial District, Barau Jubrin, for the Deputy Senate Presidency.
According to reports, the decision was reached at Tuesday’s meeting between Tinubu, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC), and contestants for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.
The report quoted sources as saying 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 presidential 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.
Some of the frontrunners for the Senate Presidency position include the current occupant of the office, Ahmad Lawan (Yobe), Orji Kalu (Abia), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi)