Senate Presidency: Akpabio woos NNPP, LP for support

Senate Presidency aspirant Senator Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday took his campaign to the headquarters of two opposition political parties – Labour Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – in Abuja.

Akpabio was accompanied on the visit by Senator Barau Jibrin who is seeking to be Deputy Senate President.

Also in the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs’ entourage was the Stability Group working to actualise the aspiration of Akpabio and Jibrin as presiding officers of the 10th Senate.

The visit came barely 24 hours after Akpabio and Jibrin met with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing the National Working Committee of the NNPP led by its acting National Chairman, Abba -Kawu Ali, Akpabio said the Stability Group was there to solicit the support of leadership of the opposition party, ahead of June 13 Inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

He said: The membership of the Stability Group cuts across party lines and we are doing extensive consultations. We have never had a situation where we have eight political parties like we are going to have in the 10th National Assembly.


“In the House, we are blind to party affiliations and that’s why we are moving to meet our leaders. I thank you for receiving us. I want to thank your national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for the meeting he is having with our president elect, Bola Tinubu and I hope the meeting will be fruitful, for the progress of the nation.”

The Director-General of the Akpabio-Jibrin Campaign Organisation, Senator Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South), said his Group has secured signatures of 69 members backing the aspiration of Senators Akpabio’s and Jibrin’s ticket.

Ndume said: ”We want you to support this Stability Group. We have 69 who have signed. It isn’t about Akpabio or Jibrin. What the country needs now is stability and that’s why we called the group Stability Group.”

Acting National Chairman of the NNPP, Ali, described the Akpabio-Jibrin ticket as a formidable ticket and assured the aspirants of the support of its party’s Senators-elect.

“I know you are a formidable team. As governor of Akwa-Ibom State, we know how you performed. We know you are competent.

“So, we are supporting you based on your record. We will support your ambition to be the President of the 10th National Assembly.

“But I urge your team not to fail Nigerians, especially the youth in the area of employment, Ali said.

While addressing members of the Stability Group at his party national secretariat, factional national chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended the Stability Group for extending hands of fellowship to oppostion party’s leadership.

Abure said: “It is usually uncommon for a political party in power to consider accommodating the opposition. It is an indication that our democracy is growing.

“I want to say very clearly that in most of our engagements with our senators-elect, we haven’t given them any directives. We don’t want to be dictating to them on where they should go..

“Two of my senators-elect are here. Ireti Kingibe isn’t here but we shall whisper to her. We need a vibrant legislature to promote our democracy and we hope yours will be a departure from what we have.

“Every government policy must be such that will affect our people positively. The Constitution in chapter two states that welfare of the people and security shall be primary responsibility of government. My appeal is that we give attention to welfare of Nigerians and the leadership of the Senate can help to make that a national priority.”

The National Chairman of LP however restated his party’s reservations to the outcome of the last presidential election.

“We aren’t comfortable with the processes leading to the victory of your candidate. This isn’t the forum to ventilate that but I need to put that on record.

“I need to correct the impression that we are supporting Asiwaju. For us, it is a no go area but we have no doubt in Akpabio’s capacity to lead the Senate,” he said.