National Assembly: APC picks Akpabio, Abbas

On Monday, the All Progressives Congress named Senator Godwin Akpabio, who served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in the previous administration, as the party’s consensus candidate for the presidency of the Senate in the 10th Assembly.

In addition, the incumbent leader of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Jibrin Barau, was selected by the governing party to take on the role of Deputy Senate President.

The APC allocated the presidency of the Senate to the South-South region, and the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives was given to the North-West region.

Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna, was given the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Green Chamber. Ben Kalu, a representative-elect from South-East, was successful in his bid for the position of Deputy Speaker.

Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, emerged from a crucial meeting that lasted for three and a half hours and told reporters that the only decision that had been made so far was the zoning of the two principal offices in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The meeting was held by the National Working Committee of the party.

Morka, who was flanked by the National Women Leader of the APC, Dr. Betta Edu, and the Deputy National Women Leader, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim, however, assuaged the concerns of Nigerians by assuring them that the leadership of the party would continue to consult with relevant stakeholders.

According to him, the decisions regarding the zoning and the consensus candidates were made during the meeting that they had on Friday in consultation with the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He stated, “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress met today (Monday) to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders, and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.” He added, “The meeting was held to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with other party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.”

“The National Working Committee took note, with respect, of the results of the meetings that had been held between the President-elect and the leadership of the National Working Committee. The NWC has issued a call for additional and improved consultation with relevant stakeholders in order to guarantee the support of those who are running for leadership positions in the National Assembly as well as party members across the country.