10th Senate: Akpabio Losing Out As A. A Yari's Camp Garner More Members.

By Mohammed Bello Doka

The stage is getting set for yet another clash of the titans ahead of the June 13th inauguration and election of the leadership of the National Assembly, which expectedly will feature two prominent contenders. 

Former Governors Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and the former governor of Zamfara State Senator Abdulaziz Yari are set for a showdown as the two camps prepare to collide on the said date for the leadership of the senate. 

It could be recalled that the leadership of the governing party, APC has initially endorsed the choice of Senator Akpabio as Senate President, Senator Jibril Barau Northwest as deputy Senate President just as Tajudden Abbas, Northwest was nominated as Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mr. Kanu Southeast as deputy Speaker.

Although this choice was met by stiff opposition from other party members who wished to aspire to the same position, which led to protests, accusations and counter-accusations.

It was also gathered by Abuja Network News that the momentum is gradually shifting and Senator Akpabio is gradually losing support in favor of Senator Yari's camp.

Vanguard News Reported that “From the statistics taken at the last outing of the two camps held simultaneously at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the Destination by Gidanka respectively, 21 senators-elect attended the Stability group of Akpabio, while 57 physically attended the Yari-led group meeting, with apologies from 16 other senators-elect who could not attend in person.

It was also gathered yesterday morning that at least four of the senators-elect that attended the Akpabio meeting have shifted camp and alliance to the SDC camp of Yari and Izunaso.  The four senators are from South-South and South-West.

With this, the Yari/Izunaso-led group, made up of senators-elect from the six geopolitical zones of the country, now has over 60 senators-elect in their camp, a clear majority in the 109-member Senate.”

With this gradual shifting of event and the swelling of the Yari's camp, pundits presume that Senator Yari is costing home to victory, Time will tell.