Senate Presidency: Don’t bow to pressure, group urges APC

Ahead of the opening of the Tenth National Assembly on June 13, 2023, relatives of Godswill Akpabio, the unanimous candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the post of Senate Presidency, have thrown their weight behind his candidature.

The group, under the auspices of the Ntipe Ibibio Unity Mission, called on the ruling APC not to succumb to pressure from those who are against the candidacy of the “best person for the job”.

punch reports that Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa-Ibom State, was declared by the APC as the “consensus candidate” for the presidency of the Senate.

His rise has kicked up a lot of dust with some groups within the party calling for a second choice of candidate.

However, while addressing the press on Wednesday, the coordinator of the Ntipe Ibibio Unity Mission, Okon Mkpafit, said that Akpabio is the best choice for the Senate President post among the personalities from Southern Nigeria and South South geopolitical region of the country.

Mkfafit also revealed that Akpabio’s relatives are working to ensure that he emerges as Senate President in the 10th National Assembly and that they are calling on APC chiefs and members, including other contestants, to support Akpabio. have been

“We are relatives of Senator Godswill Akpabio under the Ntipe Ibibio Unity Mission, we categorically declare our support of the APC zoning of the Senate Presidency in the South-South and throw our weight behind Senator Godswill Akpabio.

“The last time we remember that situation in our area was in 1979, which was the Second Republic, with the rise of Senator Joseph Wyss.

“We urge all elected senators to join hands to ensure that our region produces the next Senate.”

He however warned that any conspiracy and pressure on the party to oust Akpabio would be counterproductive.

“We have heard and seen how some are pressuring the APC leadership to drop Senator Akpabio, and we warn that if this happens it will negatively affect the party and it will be counterproductive, and therefore We recommend that the party’s choice be valid.

“We call upon all Nigerians to join hands with the incoming President, Bola Tinubu, to build our great nation and make it truly the ‘Giant of Africa’, the bastion of the happiness and greatness of the black nations; and once again reclaim its important position among the community of nations,” he said.