NASS inauguration: Akpabio, Abass know fate as Yari, Wase remain adamant

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a proclamation letter for the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in accordance with the 1999 Constitution.
Telescope.ng reports that on Tuesday, June 13, a total of 109 senators in the Red Chamber will select the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, while 360 members of the House of Representatives will elect the House Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The race for the Senate presidency and the speaker’s seat has been intense, with major contenders ramping up their campaigns just days before the inauguration.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, and Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara State, are the two main contenders for the Senate presidency.
President Tinubu and the APC leadership have endorsed Akpabio for the Senate presidency and Senator Jibrin Barau from Kano North as the preferred candidate for deputy Senate president.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu from Abia State has withdrawn his bid for the Senate presidency and formed an alliance with Yari to contest for the position of deputy Senate president.
In the House of Representatives, the leading candidates for the speakership are Tajudeen Abbas from Kaduna, the preferred candidate of the APC, and Ahmed Wase from Plateau, the former deputy speaker.
Abbas and Benjamin Kalu are favoured by the APC for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker, respectively. Other contenders in the speakership race include Aminu Sani Jaji from Zamfara, Sada Soli Jibia from Katsina, and Miriam Onuoha from Anambra.
There have been claims and counterclaims regarding endorsements from various camps. Akpabio’s camp has asserted that they have secured the support of more senators, including those from the South East, while Yari’s group has dismissed these claims.
Senator Ali Ndume, the director-general of Akpabio’s campaign group, stated that 15 senators-elect from the South East endorsed Akpabio’s candidacy during a meeting.
However, a senator from the South East debunked this claim, explaining that Akpabio used a group picture taken at a meeting for propaganda purposes.
In the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, a major contender for House Speaker, refuted rumours that he has withdrawn from the race. His media team clarified that Wase remains in the race and is favoured by his colleagues to win the seat.
Despite opposition and the formation of a coalition challenging Abbas’ candidacy, various channels for consultation have been opened to alleviate tensions and gather more support.
The Joint Task-10th Assembly, a coalition of eight political parties represented in the incoming House of Representatives, has played a role in garnering endorsements from lawmakers across parties, strengthening Abbas’ support base.