Politics
Battle For National Assembly Leadership Sparks Division, Regional Tensions
The contest for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly could result in the emergence of an unexpected candidate, as leaders from the Northern and South-West regions have entered the fray regarding the selection of principal officers for the National Assembly.
Currently, a heated dispute has arisen between supporters of the sitting President, Muhammadu Buhari, and those of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leading to a division within the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The conflict centers around the micro-zoning of the Senate President position to Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State, which has allegedly sparked a covert clash between the two factions.
This power struggle has caused a rift among legislators representing the six geo-political zones of the country, deepening divisions along lines of ethnicity and religion among the newly elected senators and their counterparts in the House of Representatives.
Concerned about the unfolding situation, prominent figures from northern states, including two former military heads of state, as well as influential traditional rulers from the North and South West, have taken action by intervening and engaging in discussions with key senators.
A senator-elect, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the elder statesmen undertook the responsibility individually and personally reached out to influential senators, especially from the Northern region.
Their primary message emphasized the importance of prioritizing Nigeria’s unity and national cohesion in their decision-making process regarding the election of Assembly leadership.
According to the confidential source, the core appeal made during these discussions was for Northern senators to refrain from utilizing their numerical advantage to overpower the Senate and undermine the fair competition for its leadership position.
“Instead, they appealed to us to emulate the APC governors from Northern Nigeria who in the most patriotic manner gave all their support to the emergence of a southern candidate for the party and did all within their powers for the victory of Bola Tinubu from the South-West at the polls.
“They are talking to us, especially those who have declared interest in the presidency of the senate to drop their legitimate ambitions for the sake of unity and cohesion of Nigeria and support the Southern region in producing it”
The senator-elect further confirmed to our correspondent that initially, the Northern senators were not opposed to the idea of the South producing the Senate President.
However, their discontent stemmed from the president-elect’s unilateral decision to choose Senator Akpabio without consulting or considering the opinions of other stakeholders.
“But, with the seriousness of the moves by these patriotic and highly respected statesmen and the esteemed traditional rulers, I see the major contender from the North, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari dropping the gauntlet and supporting a more credible and consensus-vibrant aspirant from the South.
“Apart from the manner he was chosen by the President-elect, Northern Senators see an Akpabio-led Senate as an attempt to bring back the agitations for resource control, something they loathe with a passion.
“We can not trust his leadership as he is unlikely going to protect the interest of the North,” a northern Senator said.
In the North, there are three prominent contenders vying for the Senate President position: Abubakar Yari, Jibrin Barau, and Sani Musa. From the South, potential candidates include Osita Izunaso, Orji Kalu, and Godswill Akpabio.
Additionally, there have been unconfirmed reports suggesting that a former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole, may also enter the race for the Senate President position.
A Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing it as a joke.
Masari made the remark while addressing members of the Jigawa State Academics Forum.
SEE MORE: ‘A Nation Cannot Escape the Bill’ — Atiku Questions Tinubu’s Third UNGA Absence
According to him, Atiku’s political ambition would not be achieved through what he described as desperation, insisting that the former vice president was aware of the situation.
“Even Atiku himself knows he is just joking and kidding,” Masari said.
The presidential aide also described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the dominant political party in the country and framed the 2027 election as a choice between continuing the Tinubu administration’s programmes and returning to the opposition.
Masari highlighted infrastructure development, economic diversification, security and poverty reduction as areas the Tinubu administration was prioritising.
He also commended the Jigawa State Academics Forum for endorsing President Tinubu and Governor Umar Namadi for another term.
On education, Masari said the Federal Government was giving the sector priority, adding that the university academic calendar had stabilised and students were benefiting from federal student loans.
His comments come as political parties and opposition figures intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be questioned if there were any irregularities in the conduct of the 2023 presidential election.
Sule made the remarks during an appearance on Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, an Arise TV anchor, while responding to questions about allegations surrounding the 2023 presidential election and INEC’s handling of the process.
The governor noted that INEC was the body that conducted and declared the election, saying: “INEC declared that I won the election in 2023. INEC that determined the election.”
SEE ALSO: 2027: Tinubu Has Done Enough Good To Win Re-Election — Gov Sule
Speaking about claims that both Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar believed they won the 2023 presidential election, Sule questioned how the APC could have manipulated the election against both candidates.
He said: “So who won the election between Peter Obi and Atiku? Take President Asiwaju out. So who now rigged each other between the PDP and then the Labour Party? Because you are saying that Peter Obi said he won, Atiku said he won—”
On concerns over glitches on INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the presidential election and allegations that “something fishy” may have happened, Sule said INEC should provide answers if there were any irregularities.
He stated: “Well, if something fishy went down, it is INEC herself that would be asked that question.”
Sule also referred to subsequent elections conducted under the current INEC leadership, including the Osun and Anambra governorship elections.
According to him, APC lost the Osun election without similar complaints, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won in Anambra.
He said: “You know, and so far, all the elections… he held the election in Osun, and they didn’t say there was anything wrong with that one, because APC lost. We had an election in Anambra, there was no problem about that one, because APGA won.”
“You know, so it is anywhere APC won now that there is a problem. It doesn’t… life doesn’t work that way.” the governor added.
Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take preventive measures to protect former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Ejiofor raised concerns over Obi’s safety ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that any harm to the presidential candidate could have serious consequences for Nigeria’s political and democratic environment.
READ MORE: 2027: Peter Obi ‘Unfit’ To Govern Nigeria — Onanuga Declares
In a statement issued in Abuja, Ejiofor said Obi’s recent expression of concern about his personal safety should not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric.
He said when a presidential candidate publicly expresses uncertainty about his safety ahead of an election, the appropriate response should be “vigilance, sober inquiry and preventive action.”
“Nothing must happen to Obi,” Ejiofor said, calling on Tinubu to act now to protect the former Anambra governor and the democratic space.
The lawyer also cited recent developments surrounding the 2027 political season, including Obi’s complaints about difficulties faced by opposition politicians campaigning in some states and the controversy surrounding the obstruction of his convoy during a visit to Benue State.
According to Ejiofor, the circumstances require greater attention from government institutions, security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders.
He warned that if anything happened to Obi, the consequences could extend beyond the individual and potentially affect Nigeria’s already delicate electoral environment.
“If anything should happen to Peter Obi—God forbid!—the consequences would extend far beyond the individual concerned,” he said, describing the possible consequences as “disastrous and devastating.”
Ejiofor urged the Federal Government, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties and state authorities to ensure that presidential candidates can campaign peacefully and that voters can freely hear competing political views.
He also called for political disagreements to be settled through the ballot and the law rather than intimidation, coercion or violence.
“Prevention is wiser than mourning,” Ejiofor said, stressing that Nigeria should not wait for a tragedy before taking steps to address concerns surrounding the 2027 political environment.
He further appealed for an electoral atmosphere where every legitimate contestant can campaign, political parties can organise peacefully and citizens can freely listen to and support candidates of their choice.
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