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How Tinubu Got Umahi To Resign As Senate President For Akpabio

May 10, 2023 | 2023 Elections | 0 comments

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi believes President-Elect Bola Tinubu played a strategic role in his standing down for Godswill Akpabio in the battle for the 10th senate presidency.

He said this at the new Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Onueke, Umahi. Umahi told reporters, “The head of the party who is the president-elect phoned me and I feel it is an honour to have called me and I consulted with him while he was in Paris and he said we were going to talk about it.”

He added, “When he came back, he called me, and we had a meeting, and he said, ‘Please, I have committed myself, and it is his right to do that,’ this is the president-elect, 29th May, he is going to be the president of the country so if he had made promises of course when you are running for such office you must make promises. I had to accept so I wouldn’t impede his advancement.

Tinubu’s zoning formula with Akpabio’s preferred senate president was approved by the APC’s National Working Committee earlier. Some party members rejected the former Akwa Ibom governor’s candidature despite unanimity.

Dialogue is politics—Umahi.
The Ebonyi State governor added, “So, I also accepted for the benefit of the South-East let it not look as if we are in opposition; we just oppose everything. Politics is about conversation and compromise, so what would happen if we surrendered or I said no?

Umahi added, “So, I had to in the interest of the South East, therefore although we didn’t get that one I am sure by God’s special grace the work some of us put in promoting APC in the South East, we are going to receive some other things that are tangible.”