Senate Presidency: Don’t Bow To Pressure, Group Urges APC

Ahead of the inauguration of the ninth National Assembly on June 13, 2023, kinsmen of Godswill Akpabio, the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the office of Senate President, have put their support behind his candidacy.

The Ntipe Ibibio Unity Mission also urged the ruling APC not to give in to pressure from those opposed to the candidacy of the “best man for the job.”

According to the PUNCH, Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa-Ibom state, has been named the APC’s “consensus candidate” for the job of Senate President.

His election has caused quite a stir, with some members of the party asking for a different candidate.

However, in a news conference on Wednesday, the leader of the Ntipe Ibibio Unity Mission, Okon Mkpafit, stated that Akpabio remains the best choice for Senate President among people from the country’s Southern Nigeria and South-South geopolitical zones.

Mkpafit also revealed that Akpabio’s kinsmen have been working hard to ensure that he is elected Senate President in the 10th National Assembly, and they are urging APC chieftains and members, as well as other candidates, to support Akpabio.

“We recall that the last time the position came to our zone was in 1979, which was the Second Republic, which saw the emergence of Senator Joseph Wayas.”

“We plead with all the senators-elect to join hands to ensure that our zone produces the next senate.”

He however warned that any scheming and pressure on the party to throw out Akpabio will be counterproductive.

“We have heard and seen how some persons are piling pressure on the APC leadership to drop Senator Akpabio, and we warn that if that happens it will affect the party negatively and that would be counterproductive, and therefore we counsel that the choice of the party be upheld.”

“We also call all Nigerians to join hands with the in-coming President, Bola Tinubu to build our great nation and make it the ‘Giant of Africa’ indeed, the joy of the black nations and the citadel of greatness; and once again reclaim our enviable position among the comity of nations,” he added.