By Reporter
Ahead of tomorrow’s inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, there are strong indications that former Zamfara state governor, Abdul’Aziz Yari may emerge the next Senate President given the support he has received so far from the senators-elect who will be the ultimate decider on the floor of the upper chamber.
Yari will slug it out with former governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio who is the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
A source who is also a key part in the leadership tussle of the 10th NASS said over 70 senators-elect out of the 109 members have pledged their support for Yari based on certain factors.
He listed the factors as religion, the need for an independent judiociary, role of outgoing Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the indifference of the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Akpabio’s senate presidency ambition.
According to him “APC has 59 senators-elect, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 36.
The Labour Party (LP) has 8. New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) both have 2 members each while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) both have 1 member each”.
“From what is on ground, Yari is the man to beat. The number of votes required to win is 55, as we are speaking today, Yari has about 70 senators-elect with him. Many of the senators are backing Yari because of two main issues.
“First, those backing him are angry because the presidency and APC leadership are bringing up religion.
“If you didn’t play up religion in your time during the presidential election and you said religion is not an issue, then it won’t be an issue now.”