Senate Presidency election: I was betrayed by colleagues-Yari
Former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has alleged betrayal by some of his colleagues, two days after losing the senate presidency to Senator Godswill Akpabio
Akpabio, former Akwa-Ibom State Governor and lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North-West was the anointed candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He emerged as President of the 10th Senate on Tuesday after polling a total of 63 votes. Yari, also of the ruling party got 46 votes.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday in Abuja, Yari claimed his permutations as of 3 am on Tuesday showed that he would get at least 61 out of the 109 votes available, which would have been enough to see him coast home to victory.
Despite feeling betrayed by the turnout of events, the former Zamfara governor believed only God knew what transpired.
“Yes, I can say there was a betrayal. That’s the truth because as we are taking stock as of 3 am, Monday-Tuesday election, we took stock of over 76. But as usual, human beings, we thought we are going to get a pullout of about 15 which we will have a comfortable 61 to win the election,” he stated.
“We took into cognisance that there could be a fall-out of about 15 and we had agreed that if that happens, we would comfortably still have about 61 people.
“What we got was the reverse and yes, I felt betrayed over that outcome.”
Yari said he will work with Akpabio.
“I gave the senate president the assurance that we are going to work together as a team to protect the institution that we have,” he said.
“Life is a cycle and as a Muslim, God has decided who will be the president of the senate for the 10th assembly and I have no reason not to accept what God has decided.”
