Kalu backs Akpabio as lawmakers threaten Tambuwal’s Minority Leader bid

Intrigues around the election of principal officers at the Senate have intensified, ahead of Tuesday’s resumption.

In a recorded video, via his verified Facebook account, former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, who had protested endorsement of Senate President Godswill Akpabio by President Bola Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC), recanted and pledged loyalty to Akpabio.

The video has been confirmed by Kalu’s media aides.

In another development, the sour political relationship between immediate past Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, has resurfaced in the Senate and is threatening Tambuwal’s bid to become Minority Leader.

Also, yesterday, another group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators, including Tambuwal – Senators Abdul Ningi and Henry Seriake Dickson – insisted alleged move by Wike and Akpabio to disrupt the Senate minority caucus must be stopped.

Kalu declared that Akpabio won the contest in a free, fair and credible manner.

He was reacting to media reports that some 22 unnamed senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were planning to leave the party because of the outcome of the Senate election.

Kalu said: “Let me be honest with you, the election in the Senate was very transparent. Senator Akpabio won the election. It was free; it was fair. I congratulate the Clerk of the National Assembly. I congratulate the Clerk and all the staff of the Senate. You know, I cannot lie against my conscience. Akpabio won the election hands down.

“There was no controversy about who won the election. If there is anything any other persons want to say, that is their business. Akpabio, to my conscience, to my seeing, and to my honour, won the election, and we have since congratulated him.”

Kalu, who had also aspired for the office of Senate President, said: “There are no two Senates in the history of the Senate. There is only one Senate. June 13 was the day we decided to have one Senate.”

Meanwhile, some senators in opposition political parties are taking serious measures to stop Tambuwal from becoming the next Minority Leader.

The senators, who pledged loyalty to Wike, said, on condition of anonymity: “Tambuwal has a record of throwing his political allies under the bus at critical moments to promote his interest and lacks capacity to provide needed leadership as Minority Leader.”

The senators resolved to vote for any ranking senator other than the former Sokoto State governor.