The senator representing Borno south senatorial district, Ali Ndume, has revealled how President Bola Tinubu rallied support for Godswill Akpabio to become Senate President.
Ndume, who made the revelation while speaking on Channels television on Tuesday, June 13, said Tinubu “deployed his foot soldiers” to deliver his preferred candidates.
Politics Nigeria recalls that Akpabio was elected Senate president after polling 63 votes to defeat close contender, Abdulaziz Yari, who got 46 votes.
Tajudeen Abbas, representing Zaria constituency in Kaduna emerged as Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Benjamin Kalu from Abia state, was elected deputy.
Reacting to the emergence of National Assembly leaders, Ndume noted that Tinubu is an experienced politician, revealing that he convinced many lawmakers to support his preferred candidates.
“When I contested last time (2019), everybody was on the other side because the party and president endorsed Ahmad Lawan,” he said.
Ndume noted that the same thing would have repeated itself but the President averted it.
The Senator revealed that Tinubu deployed several foot soldiers to compliment Akpabio’s campaign team effort adding that the Vice Presisdent, Kashim Shettima also assisted.
“He called some people. He even went to some people. It is politics. He sneaked out to visit some people and begged them to support. He has his reasons and they were convincing.”