Akpabio sets blaze in race for Senate President

The race for the senate president of the 10th National Assembly in Nigeria took the burning stage of national discourse immediately after the 2023 general elections. The entrance of Senator Godswill Akpabio into the contest for the senate president of the National Assembly elevated the stake, causing seeming panic in certain aspirants. This led to speculations that Akpabio had stepped down from the race, which was absolute falsehood, as the former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs ministry is still interested and has No Plan to withdraw from the race for the senate president.
Meanwhile, aspirants for the senate president of the 10th National Assembly in the All Progressives Congress (APC) include the current Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Borno State, Northeast; current Chief Whip, Kalu Uzor Kalu, Abia State, Southeast; Barau Jibrin, Kano Central Senatorial District, Kano State, Northwest; Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State, South-South; Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State, South-South; former Governor Abdul-Aziz Yari of Zamfara State, Northwest; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Southeast; Senator Osita Izunaso, Imo West, Southeast; Senator Ali Ndume, Borno South, Northeast; and others.
Akpabio, raising the stake in the race for the senate president of the 10th National Assembly, sent strong message to other aspirants for the exalted office with his leadership credential, experience, legacy and political pedigree. He has been Governor of Akwa Ibom State for wight years, Senate Minority Leader, Minister in the contemporary democratic dispensation.
As governor, Akpabio implemented policies of “Uncommon Transformation” for the fundamental development of Akwa Ibom State in his tenures.
Also, Akpabio, like the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, groomed political leadership in the state to take after him, including the current Governor of Akwa Ibom State. His legacy projects, for instance, the Ibom Airport, has not only been sustained, but further developed by his successor who invested in Ibom Airline. Apparently, Akpabio, like Tinubu, has a political template for progressive governance, and grooming of successive leaders in the state.
Akpabio also has the leadership credential of promoting populist policies, policies that provide solutions and improve the anticipation of the people. He has proper understanding of the challenges of the grassroot population and the development needs of the non-state actors.
Akpabio introduced reforms for effective performance in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) when he was Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, bringing the NDDC under the direct supervision of the minister.
Invariably, Akpabio is taking his developmental leadership sagacity to the leadership of the Senate as the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly to complement the progressive governance attribute of the incoming President Tinubu.
Meanwhile, APC has majority of 54 seats in the senate which comprises of 109 members; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 27 senators, the Labour Party (LP) 6 members, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has 2 senators, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2 members, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has 1 member and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has 1 senator.
The senate president will be elected in June 2023 after the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in Abuja by the incoming president.