Senate President Godswill Akpabio has hinted at efforts to secure favourable outcomes for serving senators in the ongoing party nomination processes, saying lawmakers had been “promised very few disappointments” and that the Senate leadership was working hard to achieve that objective.
How that promise would be achieved is yet to be seen.
Akpabio’s address also welcomed senators back from the three-week recess and the Sallah break.
The remark came as he congratulated political parties that recently concluded their primaries and candidates who emerged for the general election.
But beneath the routine welcome address delivered at the resumption of plenary was a politically loaded message aimed at a chamber rattled by bruising primary battles, surprise results and growing anxiety over the political future of many senators.
At a time when a number of serving lawmakers had lost their party tickets, were battling disputes arising from controversial primaries, or were weighing their next political options, Akpabio’s comments appeared carefully crafted to calm nerves and reassure his colleagues that all hope was not lost.
“I know that there will always be victories and disappointments,” the Senate President told lawmakers.
Then came the statement that immediately caught attention across the chamber: “In this Senate, we are promised that we will have very few disappointments. I know that the Senate Leader and the leadership of the Senate are working very hard towards that.”
The comment drew attention because it suggested that efforts may be underway behind the scenes to address the political setbacks some senators suffered during the recently concluded primaries.
While Akpabio did not elaborate on what form those efforts might take, the statement fuelled speculation about possible political negotiations, reconciliations, substitutions, appointments, defections or other arrangements that could accommodate affected lawmakers ahead of the next election cycle.
His remarks came shortly after he jokingly warned one senator not to be lured into another political party, underscoring growing concerns about potential defections following contentious primary contests across the country.
Senators, who failed to secure a reelection ticket, were heard discussing their fate with colleagues, while those who won their tickets were in a celebratory mood, throwing banters loudly in the chambers.
Akpabio congratulated the winners and reassured the losers to have faith in the future.
“I congratulate political parties that recently concluded their primaries and internal democratic processes. I felicitate with those who have secured the mandate of their parties to seek elective office,” he added.
