…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
The Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun, has revealed the rationale behind the support of senators-elect on the party’s platform for Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President.
This decision comes as the All Progressives Congress (APC) had already designated Akpabio and Senator Barau Jibrin as their preferred candidates for the positions of 10th Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
The Akpabio/Barau Campaign Organization seeks support:
Last week, the Akpabio/Barau Campaign Organisation, also known as The Stability Group, held a meeting with the leadership of the Labour Party and the New Nigerian Peoples Party.
Their objective was to solicit support for Akpabio and Jibrin in their bid for the respective positions.
The Director-General of the organization, Senator Ali Ndume, stated in an interview that Akpabio and Barau enjoy the backing of senators-elect from opposition parties.
According to Ndume, approximately 69 senators have already signed up to support the Akpabio/Barau ticket and are actively participating in meetings with Akpabio and others.
LP’s support for APC Senators-elect:
In response to these developments, Akin Osuntokun, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, shed light on why the Labour Party senators-elect are lending their support to the APC candidates.
Osuntokun explained that with no other parties contesting for the Senate President position, the senators-elect must have considered various factors before deciding to back the leadership of the National Assembly.
While he acknowledged his lack of detailed knowledge regarding the situation, Osuntokun emphasized that the absence of alternative contenders leaves the APC senators-elect with no other choice but to support their party’s candidates.
Conclusion:
The Labour Party senators-elect have chosen to throw their support behind Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President, along with the backing of Senator Barau Jibrin as Deputy Senate President.
This decision comes as no other parties are contesting for these positions, leaving the senators-elect with limited options.
The implications of this support and its impact on the upcoming National Assembly leadership will become clearer as further developments unfold.