10th Senate: Ex-APC Spokesman Backs Akpabio, Begs Northern Senators-Elect For Support
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Yekini Nabena, a former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has begged northern senators-elect to vote for a candidate from the south-south as senate president.
Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs who is from the south-south, was nominated by the ruling party for the position.
However, the likes of Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, and Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia, have insisted on running despite their party’s stance.
In a statement on Monday, Nabena said it would be unfair for the north to have vice-president, speaker, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and the senate president.
“For the sake of equity, justice and fairness, I will appeal to all the senators-elect to rally round Akpabio to emerge the next president,” he said.
“This has become necessary because the two major contenders in the race for the position of speaker have withdrawn and declared their support for Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, which means that the road is almost clear for the emergence of another Muslim from the north as number four citizen.
“Therefore, there is need for religious balancing in government and for the fact that only south-south will be left out of the equation if the position of senate president eludes the region, hence the more reason senators-elect should rally support for Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next senate president.
For the sake of equity, justice and fairness, I will appeal to all the senators-elect to rally round Akpabio to emerge the next president,” he said.
“This has become necessary because the two major contenders in the race for the position of speaker have withdrawn and declared their support for Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, which means that the road is almost clear for the emergence of another Muslim from the north as number four citizen.
“Therefore, there is need for religious balancing in government and for the fact that only south-south will be left out of the equation if the position of senate president eludes the region, hence the more reason senators-elect should rally support for Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next senate president.
