2027: Akpabio, Senators’ Endorsement of 11th Senate Leadership Embarrassment to Democracy —Prof Omitola

Professor of Political Science, Bola Omitola, has described the endorsement of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other principal officers to retain their positions in the 11th National Assembly as an embarrassment to Nigeria’s democracy and the legislative arm of government.

Omitola said the 10th Senate had no business deciding who would lead the 11th Senate, insisting that such a decision should be left to lawmakers who would emerge from the 2027 general elections.

He also predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in 2027, describing the president as an experienced politician who would play an important role in stabilising the country after the elections.

“The President should help return the country to the tripod. Since he is the president from the Southwest, his vice is from the Northeast, the Southeast should automatically produce the senate president, especially with the fact that Peter Obi from there would lose in the election. The president should be a stabilizing force.”

The professor was reacting to Thursday’s resolution by the Senate endorsing Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and other principal officers to retain their positions in the next National Assembly.

The motion was moved by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno and seconded by Senator Cyril Fasuyi. It was subsequently adopted through a voice vote presided over by Akpabio.

Reacting to the development, Omitola questioned why lawmakers were already discussing the leadership of the next Senate when Nigerians had yet to elect those who would constitute it.

“The action of Akpabio and the lawmakers who moved and supported that motion is an embarrassment to democracy and the legislative arm of government. The 10th Senate cannot determine the activities or leadership of the 11th Senate.

“Some of these senators may not even return to the National Assembly in 2027. So, on what basis are they deciding who will lead the next Senate? The senators who will be elected in 2027 have the right to choose their leaders.

“I wonder when Akpabio will stop embarrassing President Tinubu and Nigerians with this desperation to remain Senate President. Why is he so worried about the leadership of an Assembly that has not even been elected?

“To me, this shows that he is afraid of losing his position in 2027. Otherwise, why would anyone be so desperate to declare that there will be no vacancy in an office that is supposed to be filled through an election?” he asked.

Omitola said the Senate President should concentrate on the responsibilities of the current National Assembly instead of getting involved in the politics of the next one.

He argued that Nigeria had more pressing problems requiring the attention of lawmakers, including economic hardship, insecurity and infrastructure challenges.

“Akpabio and his colleagues should concentrate on the 10th Senate and leave the politics of the 11th Senate for now. Nigerians elected them to make laws, carry out oversight functions and represent their interests, not to reserve political offices for themselves ahead of another election.

“The Senate Presidency is not anybody’s personal property. It is not a family position that can be handed over or reserved. There must be respect for the democratic process,” he said.

Speaking on the 2027 presidential election, Omitola expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances, saying the president had the political experience to defeat his major opponents.

“I believe President Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election. Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi will lose against him. Tinubu is an experienced leader who understands Nigerian politics.

“He has been in politics for many years and understands how to manage political interests. I also believe he will play a good role in stabilising the nation after the elections.

“That is why people like Akpabio should stop creating unnecessary distractions for the president. Tinubu has enough responsibilities already, and the Senate should be helping him through its constitutional duties rather than getting involved in needless controversies,” he said.

Omitola also criticised what he described as the recurring controversies surrounding Akpabio’s leadership since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023.

He questioned why the Senate President had continued to attract public criticism over issues he believed could have been handled differently.

“Since Akpabio became Senate President in 2023, his leadership has been surrounded by one controversy after another. We witnessed the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi following the budget-padding allegations. We also witnessed the controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused him of sexual harassment, an allegation he denied.

“We saw the disagreement with Senator Ali Ndume, the controversy over the selection of minority leaders, the comments about money being sent to senators for their recess and the claim that governors received N30 billion each to address economic hardship, which he later apologised for.

“Then came the reports alleging that his wife visited the Senate chamber in the company of marabouts and spiritualists. Although those allegations were denied, the controversy itself attracted public attention.

“Only recently, his comments during deliberations on a bill concerning attempted suicide generated another controversy over religion, which he also denied.

“How many controversies must surround the leadership of one Senate? The National Assembly is supposed to be an institution of dignity, discipline and democratic responsibility.

“Now, rather than concentrating on the responsibilities of the 10th Senate, Akpabio and some lawmakers are already attempting to determine who will lead the 11th Senate. What exactly is the desperation about?

“President Tinubu has enough national responsibilities to attend to. Akpabio should stop creating unnecessary controversies that embarrass the administration and distract from the important work of governance,” Omitola said.

The political scientist maintained that the National Assembly must be allowed to operate as an independent institution and should not be reduced to the political interests of individuals.

He said the endorsement was particularly troubling because the senators who would constitute the 11th National Assembly had not been elected.

“Nobody knows the full composition of the 11th Senate. Some serving senators will return, while others may lose their elections. There will also be new members.

“How can the present Senate sit down and decide the leadership of an Assembly whose members are not yet known? It makes no sense.

“Even if every senator in the 10th Senate supports Akpabio today, that does not mean the senators elected in 2027 must support him. They have their own constitutional rights, and those rights must be respected,” he said.

Omitola urged Akpabio and other lawmakers to pay more attention to the problems facing Nigerians and avoid actions that could further damage public confidence in the legislature.

He maintained that the country needed a National Assembly focused on governance, accountability and the welfare of citizens rather than political arrangements ahead of the next election.

Under Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution, the President and Deputy President of the Senate are elected by members of the Senate from among themselves.