The president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has settled for Messrs Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abass as his preferred choices to occupy the seats of the Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives respectively, sources said.
It was gathered that the decision was reached yesterday during the parley of the President-elect, selected members of the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) at the Defence House, Abuja, reports The Guardian.
In attendance at the parley which lasted for over an hour were the outgoing Senate President Ahmad Lawan, his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege and the outgoing, Speaker of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Among those at the parley were the APC Secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore; the Deputy National Chairman, North, Sen. Abubakar Kyari and his counterpart from the South, Chief Emma Eneukwu.
A member of the NWC who pleaded anonymity confirmed the development to our correspondent, saying, “The Tinubu had made up his mind on the issue long ago except if he changes his mind before the inauguration of the National Assembly this month.
“It is true he has endorsed them for the leadership of the National Assembly after meeting with representatives of the NWC and other stakeholders of the party.”
When contacted, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, who promised to get back to this paper on the issue neither confirmed or deny the endorsement of Abass representing Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.
Akpabio who was a two-term governor of oil-rich Akwa Ibom State was the first to step down for the President-elect during the presidential primaries held in Abuja last year.
It is understood that the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is to be deputised by Kano-born Senator Barau Jibrin, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriation.
Abass who enjoys the full support of Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai is credited to have sponsored 75 bills within the life of the National Assembly. It’s unclear who is billed to deputise Abass who chairs the House Committee on Land Transport Committee.
