10th NASS: Uzodimma confident  Akpabio  will emerge Senate President

• As Senators-elect of Southeast geo-political zone endorse Akpabio/Barau

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State ,and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, has expressed confidence in the victory of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) chosen candidate, Godswill Akpabio, as the next President of the Nigerian Senate, with barely 24 hours to the inauguration of the 10th Senate.

Uzodinma made the assertion on Monday while speaking to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, after the Democracy Day celebrations.

He affirmed that the committee, set up by the President, established to resolve the leadership dispute has made significant progress in collaboration with the outgoing Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

The Governor, who chairs the committee set up by the President, assured Nigerians that Lawan will work for the emergence of the preferred candidates of the APC.

Also speaking, Akpabio assured of a united 10th Senate under his leadership.

He said if he emerges as Senate President, all Senators would be given their pride of place and a level playing ground without looking at party differences.

Akpabio said it will be all about Nigeria and how to move the nation forward.

Meanwhile ,Senators of Southeast geo-political zone on Monday endorsed Sen Akpabio (APC-Akwa-Ibom) and Sen.  Jibrin (APC-Kano) as their choice candidates for Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 10th Assembly, respectively.

The 10th Assembly is due for inauguration on Tuesday.

Gov Uzodinma made this known in Abuja after a meeting he held with the 15 senators-elect of the Southeast geo-political zone.

“It was a meeting of the Southeast caucus of the Senate. All the 15 of them attended the meeting.

“We resolved to toe the line of the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate to support Akpabio and Barau.

“As it has to do with the Senate president and the Deputy Senate president, the APC, with most senators-elect has preferred and recommended Sen. Akpabio and Sen. Jibrin.

“We have already agreed that we will vote according to the recommendation of our great party.

“We don’t want to go into any controversy of going into unnecessary blind opposition.

“We want to work under a constructive partnership across party lines in the Southeast region and that is actually my position.

“It is a good development for the region and for the unity of the nation,’’ Uzodinma told newsmen.

The Imo governor is also the chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum (governors of APC-controlled states).

He noted that democracy is about engagements, discussions and dialogues.

“People are entitled to have aspirations. Because we are practicing partisan democracy, it is always assumed that loyalty to the party will always prevail.