RismadarVoice Reporters
October 15, 2026
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to support continuity in the National Assembly’s leadership ahead of the inauguration of the 11th Senate in 2027.
Akpabio appealed on Wednesday during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the State House, Abuja.
His remarks came amid reports that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is seeking election to the Senate to represent Imo West, is interested in the Senate presidency.
Addressing Tinubu, Akpabio argued that the existing relationship between the executive and legislature should be maintained if the president secures another term.
He referred to advice attributed to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, suggesting that an arrangement that works well should not be changed unnecessarily.
Akpabio also questioned why governors would seek other political positions before completing their constitutional terms.
“There is no need for you to start eyeing another position that is not available,” he said.
Although Akpabio did not mention Uzodimma by name, his comments came against the backdrop of reports concerning the Imo governor’s political plans.
The Senate president also expressed confidence in his political experience, declaring that he had spent more than 25 years in politics.
Uzodimma, who serves as secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, confirmed at the event that he would contest the 2027 senatorial election.
“I will be on the ballot as a senatorial candidate,” the governor said.
He urged APC members to reconcile their differences and support the party’s candidates across the country.
Uzodimma maintained that the president’s re-election campaign and the electoral prospects of other APC candidates were closely connected.
However, he did not publicly announce a bid for the Senate presidency during the event.
The reported leadership contest comes as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under Nigeria’s constitutional arrangement, the Senate president is elected by members of the Senate. Neither the president nor state governors have the constitutional authority to appoint the chamber’s presiding officer.
Consequently, the leadership of the 11th Senate will depend on the outcome of the elections and the decisions of senators when the new National Assembly is inaugurated.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu told members of the campaign council that his official responsibilities would prevent him from attending every campaign engagement.
He said the council would coordinate activities nationwide while he continued to discharge his duties as president.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council, headed by Director-General Abdulaziz Yari, is scheduled to begin its campaign activities in Kaduna on October 24, 2026.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, governors and other senior APC officials attended the inauguration.
