There is uncertainty in the camp of former governor Godswill Akpabio over his fading Senate Presidency bid as over 87 Senators-elect boycotted him yesterday in Porthacourt, the Rivers state capital.
Akpabio, an aspirant for the position of Senate President in the 10th National Assembly had while addressing guests including the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu boasted that about 40 senators-elect were with him.
The State banquet was in honour of the visiting President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was on a two day visit to Rivers State to commission projects embarked upon by Governor Wike.
Senator Akpabio said he came with the Senators to Port Harcourt in solidarity with Asiwaju Tinubu whom they would be working with to bring dividends of democracy to Nigerians through legislation.
Addresisg the President-elect Senator Akpabio said: “they are the ones that are going to evaluate your policies. They are the ones that are going to advice on a daily basis and they are the ones that are going to show you total loyalty to bring peace to Nigeria.
“Standing before you here are Senators from NNPP, Senators from Labour Party, Senators from PDP, Senators from YPP and Senators from APC. Mr President we have 109 Senators but 60 of us were supposed to be here tonight. We did not have enough aircraft to convey everyone.”
But findings by our correspondent revealed that contrary to the statement by the former Akwa Ibom state governor, senators-elect from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Young People’s Party (YPP) were not there as posited by Mr. Akpabio.
Also, the numbers of Senators-elect were not up to 40 as stated by Mr. Akpabio.
“The people I saw standing with Akpabio were not more than 15 in number. Most of them were not senators-elect. Some are non returning senators. It is in his nature to lie and deceive the gullibles. Over 87 of the senators-elect boycotted Akpabio because they understand that it is all about desperation. Akpabio is so desperate to become the next Senate President but unfortunately for him, he does not have the numbers. Only about 12 senators-elect are truly with him”. a senators-elect from the South-south geopolitical zone who refused to be named said.
Another senator-elect from the North West geopolitical zone who does not want his name mentioned in a chat with our correspondent accused Akpabio of being too corrupt and desperate, vowing to resist any attempt to impose Akpabio on the 10th Senate, saying:”If Senator Akpabio does not have a hidden agenda and also skeleton in his cupboard, why is he this desperate? He is forcing everyone to sign his phantom and ill-timed endorsement at the price of $10,000 to become the sole candidate for the election for the office of the Senate President. We shall resist any attempt to impose him on us.”