Tinubu, ex-Gov Yari in fresh tussle over 10th Senate Presidency

Few hours after President Bola Tinubu openly endorsed Senator Godswill Akpabio for the 10th Senate Presidency, three Senators-elect Abdul’aziz Yari, Jimoh Ibrahim and Elisha Abbo called for a counter meeting slated for June 9 at 9pm at the Fraiser Suites, Abuja.

The notice of the meeting was signed by Abbo, who became famous four years ago as ‘the Sex Toy Senator’ when the news of him slapping a young girl at a sex toy shop in Abuja went viral.

Abbo and Jimoh Ibrahim are currently leading the battle for the emergence of former Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’aziz Yari, as new Senate President against President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress’ choice.

Tinubu had on Thursday reiterated his position and that of the ruling APC on the choice of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau for the leadership positions as the 10th Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

Addressing the lawmakers-elect from the Senate and the House of Representatives in Abuja, the President congratulated all of them and expressed his desire and that of his administration to work in harmony with the 10th National Assembly in the overriding public interest.

With the exception of former governor of Zambara State, Abdul’Aziz Yari; Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo) and Elisha Abbo (Adamawa); all other legislators-elect of the ruling APC from both chambers, were at the Presidential Villa to meet with the President and Commander-in-Chief on the Nigerian project.

Tinubu was said to have informed the lawmakers-elect of the fact that the position of the party on the choices of presiding officers in the Senate and the House of Representatives, has not changed.

He said: “The President of this country and his Vice are of the Muslim faith, and it is natural and in the spirit of national unity and equity that the position of the Senate President be given to our Christian citizens. We should not be seen to wanting to kill Christianity in this country.”

Abbo insisted that the lawmakers should be allowed a free hand to choose leaders without any interference from the President or the ruling party.

By their own permutations, the group is throwing up the former governor for Senate President and Jimoh Ibrahim from Ondo State as his deputy.

At the time of this report, our correspondent noted that the ongoing power tussle on the irreconcilable differences on 10th National Assembly leadership selection is rattling the national leadership of the ruling APC.