Adedokun Waliyu 
Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, has asked the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Labour Party (LP) to support his aspiration to be the senate president.
Akpabio and Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president aspirant, visited the headquarters of the NNPP and LP on Wednesday in Abuja.
Akpabio and Jibrin were nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be senate president and deputy senate president respectively.
At the meeting with the NNPP leadership, the former governor of Akwa Ibom said he needs the support of the opposition parties to become senate president.
“Membership of the Stability Group cuts across party lines and we are doing extensive consultations,” he said.
“We have never had a situation where we have eight political parties like we are going to have in the 10th national assembly.
“In the house, we are blind to party affiliations and that’s why we are moving to meet our leaders.
“I thank you for receiving us. I want to thank your national leader, Engr Musa Kwankwaso for the meeting he is having with our president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and I hope the meeting will be fruitful, for the progress of the nation.”
On his part, Abba Kawu Ali, acting NNPP national chairman, said his party would support Akpabio because of his record.
“We know you are competent. So, we are supporting you based on your record. We will support your ambition to be the President of the 10th national assembly,” he said.
At the meeting with the LP leadership, Akpabio said the opposition parties should not only support his bid to be senate president but also President-elect Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Responding, Julius Abure, LP national chairman, said it is uncommon for a party in power to accommodate opposition parties, adding that it is an indication that the country’s democracy is growing.
“I want to say very clearly that in most of our engagement with our senators, we haven’t given them any directives. We don’t want to be dictating to them on where they should go,” Abure said.
“Two of my senators are here. Ireti Kingibe isn’t here but we shall whisper to her. We need a vibrant legislature to promote our democracy, we hope yours will be a departure from what we have.”
