Senate presidency: Lawan challenges Akpabio, Kalu with Isunaso as deputy

Patrick OdeyMay 22, 2023

1 minute read

The outgoing Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has thrown his hat into the ring for the Senate presidency of the 10th National Assembly, setting up a three-horse race for the coveted seat.

Lawan, who lost the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has decided to relaunch his political ambition by vying for the nation’s number three position.

He is pairing up with Senator Osita Isunaso from Imo State as his deputy, and working with other senators and stakeholders to actualize his objective.

Some of the stakeholders include Senator Ifeanyi Ubah from Anambra State, Senator Sani Musa from Niger State, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, and Chief Emeka Offor.

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The stakeholders were reportedly locked up in a nocturnal meeting that ended early Monday morning, where they reached an agreement on the deal.

Lawan’s ambition also drove him to the airport on Saturday to welcome Tinubu on his return to the country from Europe.

With his entry, Lawan will face stiff competition from two other groups vying for the Senate presidency.

The first group is the Senators Godswill Akpabio/ Jubrin Barau ticket, which has been endorsed by the APC.

The second group is the Senators Orji Uzor Kalu/Abdulaziz Yari ticket, which has risen up in protest, demanding equity, justice, and fairness for other geopolitical zones of the country.

However, it was learnt that Lawan can barely gather 15 signatures to square up with Akpabio/Barau ticket, which has about 39 members, despite his endorsement by the APC.