As the contest for the office of the Senate President intensifies, various political blocs in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have thrown their weights behind different gladiators for the office.

Prior to the emergence of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari as the president-elect, there were three political blocs within the APC, which won the March 28, 2015 presidential election and secured majority seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

These political blocs include the Buhari/Northern bloc which is made up of the president-elect and his supporters who have been with him for 12 years and collapsed their structures into the APC during the merger process; the Tinubu/South-west bloc led by former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who decamped to APC in 2013 led by Rivers State Governor Chibuike  Amaechi and Senator Bukola Saraki.

Hence, the battle for who occupies which position is championed by these blocs with the possibility of arriving at a consensus in the end.

It is against this backdrop that the Tinubu bloc has thrown its weight behind Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, for the office of the Senate President while the Amaechi bloc is pushing hard for the emergence of Saraki.

A top source in the Tinubu camp told THISDAY on Monday that Akume has the backing of Tinubu and his group which is believed to be the strongest bloc in the party, but may not have the number in the Senate to push through their goal.

According to him, the group is supporting Akume for three reasons. First, he said Akume has been with Tinubu’s group since its days in the ACN, culminating in his emergence as the Senate minority leader.

Second, he said Akume is senior to Saraki in the Senate having been in the Senate since 2007 while Saraki became a senator in 2011.

Third, the source said Tinubu and his men understand Akume far better than Saraki whom he said is not close to the bigwigs in the group like Akume.

“The Tinubu group is backing Akume because Saraki seems to be more or less an outsider (to the group). Besides, Akume has long been in ACN and he is a senior to Saraki. He is also better understood by Asiwaju than Saraki,” the source said.

THISDAY also learnt that one other factor not in Saraki’s favour is his tribe as a Yoruba man though geographically located in Kwara in North-central Nigeria.
In this regard, it was learnt that power brokers in the party have said it might be difficult to sell the candidacy of the former governor for the office to the Nigerian public in view of the fact that the vice-president-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is also a Yoruba man from Ogun State in the South-west.

A source added that it would be a hard sell for two Yoruba men to become number two and three citizens respectively even though they are from different geopolitical zones.

Despite the hurdles in Saraki’s way, the Amaechi group is said to be relentlessly pushing for his emergence as the next Senate President.

On the other hand, the agitation of North-east senators to produce the Senate President is said to have had the backing of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

The senators have implored the leadership of the APC to zone the office to their region on the grounds that it is the most marginalised zone in the country.

Among the senators jostling for the office in the North-east are former Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje, who represents Gombe Central in the Senate and his counterparts in Yobe East and Yobe North, Bukka Abba Ibrahim and Ahmed Lawan respectively.

A senator from the South-west, Professor Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central), has also indicated interest in the race.

THISDAY also learnt that given the interest by different contenders for the office, it may be difficult for the power brokers in APC to reach a consensus with the gladiators on who would become the next Senate President.

Hence, a source said if a stalemate prevails, there may be a repeat of the episode in the House of Representatives in 2011 when members of the House opted to elect their speaker and deputy in violation of the ruling PDP zoning agenda which had zoned the two offices to South-west and North-east respectively.

It was against this background that Aminu Tambuwal from the North-west and Emeka Ihedioha from the South-east emerged the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively.

Given the emerging scenario, a source told THISDAY that the Senate might be forced to decide who leads them through an election that is based on the coalition built by each of the contenders for the post of Senate President among their colleagues

http://247nigerianewsupdate.co/senate-presidency-tinubus-camp-backs-akume-amaechi-others-push-for-saraki/

Keep pushing... Bunch of thieves! GEJ my HERO! FAYOSE my ROLE MODEL!!

Well lets see how this plays out, i hope they would be able to handle all the internal squabble that comes with becoming the largest party with representation in nigeria...


Sweeping the polls is not the issue but managing egos and managing everyone's expectation is where is real work is, goodluck to APC as they strive to keep all the heavy weights happy...

poster above me i think say we done put this to rest y u still dey fall my hand . jona can come 20 19 if u like or 2035 him still young

stories. Amaechi that isn't in the senate is running for senate presidency?

Saraki we know
Saraki we trust

PDP as spectators just wish there will be fight and brutality.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2267559_tosade188016_jpeg_jpegd09e165dfac54da2115c02a94fc6552f

Hay you! Stop moving or I will start all over again...802, 803, 804, 805

. . . . . Matters arising.

Whether dem back dem or not, Amaechi Is Just A Loser.. he should just G and D

"According to him, the group is supporting Akume for three
reasons. First, he said Akume has been with Tinubu’s group
since its days in the ACN, culminating in his emergence as the
Senate minority leader" - Excuse me, are you saying Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the President or the dictator of offices in this new government?? I don't think so, Bukola Saraki is the best candidate!

Northerners gradually hijacking APC.
Almost all states in the north suddenly changed to APC
Northern APC members in National Assembly.
Northern president.
Northern Senate president.
Northern speaker.

We are watching.
Getting set to laugh at those sw fools.
Yoruba everlasting confirmed slaves to the north from time immemorial.

Very expected

Hmm. I really don't know much about senator Akume. Saraki would have been a very good candidate.

At least he has championed a leaner and more prudent government and the cutting of the huge spending on the legislature.

He is also very dynamic and modern in his thinking from the information I have about him. He also blew the whistle on the oil marketers/thieves that oga jona refused to prosecute.

His only baggage might be the SGBN issue and his perennial case with the EFCC

fitzmayowa:
Well lets see how this plays out, i hope they would be able to handle all the internal squabble that comes with becoming the largest party with representation in nigeria...


Sweeping the polls is not the issue but managing egos and managing everyone's expectation is where is real work is, goodluck to APC as they strive to keep all the heavy weights happy...

That internal squabble is small thing now, APC has always been a party with too many power blocs but they always know how to maneuver themselves against all those things.
I love the Tinubu blocs backing Akume because it will send a wrong message if the party chairman Yoruba man, Vice president Yoruba man and senate president that belongs to Igbo to Yoruba man again, it is not fair and I think Akume the Benue man is little bit closer to Igbo so he can have it.

I also wish to see the man humiliates David Mark who has been oppressing them for long.

Chiefpriest1:
Hmm. I really don't know much about senator Akume. Saraki would have been a very good candidate.

At least he has championed a leaner and more prudent government and the cutting of the huge spending on the legislature.

He is also very dynamic and modern in his thinking from the information I have about him. He also blew the whistle on the oil marketers/thieves that oga jona refused to prosecute.

His only baggage might be the SGBN issue and his perennial case with the EFCC

Yes, you are right, he is young and smart, I knew him from Ilorin, he has authority like David Mark and he is modern thinker.

Yes I watch the session that day, he came with calculator and he exposed a lot of things that day, I remember he even calculated the amount of crude oil NNPC used to give out freely to be refined and consumed in Nigeria, the minister tried to confused him on total amount of PMS, AGO, DPK ect that they can be refined from 40,000barrel but the man brought out another document to counter the lies of the minister.


My problem is that, he is a Yoruba man and Yoruba man already dominate APC, it will look like Yoruba party, it is also not fair for Yoruba man to snatch what belongs to an Igbo man even though they caused it, I wish it should go to Benue and Akume is the man.

The game has started. Wish APC well as they manage Nigeria.

ARKdiscloser7:
Northerners gradually hijacking APC.
Almost all states in the north suddenly changed to APC
Northern APC members in National Assembly.
Northern president.
Northern Senate president.
Northern speaker.

We are watching.
Getting set to laugh at those sw fools.
Yoruba everlasting confirmed slaves to the north from time immemorial.

Tribalism and hates is what brought your Gej to his knees, continue in your tribalism and shame while others progress.

Saraki, look for someone else to back you, with Ameacchi behind you means you have lost that position

egift:
PDP as spectators just wish there will be fight and brutality.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2267559_tosade188016_jpeg_jpegd09e165dfac54da2115c02a94fc6552f

Hay you! Stop moving or I will start all over again...802, 803, 804, 805

Honestly that Amaechi case sweet pass, you can't control your silly wife and she even have the gut to challenge a sitting governor because you are the wife of president.

PDP backs David Mark

gare:
Saraki, look for someone else to back you, with Ameacchi behind you means you have lost that position

Contrary to that, Amaechi's group is the most vibrant bloc in APC, they were the one who pushed for Buhari, left to Tinubu, Kwakwaso would have emerged, Ameachi's group includes APC governors, former PDP and some special South south interest.

He is very powerful in APC.

Lol
They said one president was clueless. This coming one looks like a complete Mugu!

seunfly:


Contrary to that, Amaechi's group is the most vibrant bloc in APC, they were the one who pushed for Buhari, left to Tinubu, Kwakwaso would have emerged, Ameachi's group includes APC governors, former PDP and some special South south interest.

He is very powerful in APC.

Which of the APC governors are you talking about ? The ones loyal to Tinubu or Rochas ? As far as I know that guy is on is own, he is not tactful, he does not select his battle before fighting, he just jump in the battle field to fight, mind you APC does not have any senators from Rivers State, so how does he achieve his aim, would he control other senator from other zones or state? He is own his own out there, sooner or later he would be shoved aside, because he will no longer be useful to them, HOR APC =0 Senate =0

temitemi1:
Keep pushing... Bunch of thieves! GEJ my HERO! FAYOSE my ROLE MODEL!!

you are a dog! How does ur post relate to the topic?

gare:
Which of the APC governors are you talking about ? The ones loyal to Tinubu or Rochas ? As far as I know that guy is on is own, he is not tactful, he does not select his battle before fighting, he just jump in the battle field to fight, mind you APC does not have any senators from Rivers State, so how does he achieve his aim, would he control other senator from other zones or state? He is own his own out there, sooner or later he would be shoved aside, because he will no longer be useful to them, HOR APC =0 Senate =0

no one said there is a senator from the SS, we are talking about Amaechi influence. Underrate Amaechi's influence at your own peril.

Hope they dnt get divided soon.

akinboyepelumi9:
"According to him, the group is supporting Akume for three
reasons. First, he said Akume has been with Tinubu’s group
since its days in the ACN, culminating in his emergence as the
Senate minority leader" - Excuse me, are you saying Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the President or the dictator of offices in this new government?? I don't think so, Bukola Saraki is the best candidate!

Saraki is the worst candidate. I don't think you are from kwara.

Chiefpriest1:
Hmm. I really don't know much about senator Akume. Saraki would have been a very good candidate.

At least he has championed a leaner and more prudent government and the cutting of the huge spending on the legislature.

He is also very dynamic and modern in his thinking from the information I have about him. He also blew the whistle on the oil marketers/thieves that oga jona refused to prosecute.

His only baggage might be the SGBN issue and his perennial case with the EFCC

You don't know that thief called saraki.

egift:
PDP as spectators just wish there will be fight and brutality.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2267559_tosade188016_jpeg_jpegd09e165dfac54da2115c02a94fc6552f

Hay you! Stop moving or I will start all over again...802, 803, 804, 805

Oh Lord!! Guy no tear my belle this morning abeg! Warrisdis? RotfLmafo.

blym4real:

Saraki is the worst candidate. I don't think you are from kwara.

U are right bro, I am not from Kwara, but have read so many nice things about the man Saraki

akinboyepelumi9:
U are right bro, I am not from Kwara, but have read so many nice things about the man Saraki

60% of kwara allocation goes to that man.