Umahi also claimed that most Peoples Democratic Party’s Senators-elect favour having a Christian Senate President
By Kehinde Okeowo
Senator-elect and former governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi has said majority of the Senators-elect on the platform of major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are backing Godswill Akpabio to become the Senate President.
Umahi made the statement on Friday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s News programme, where he asserted that 70 per cent of the PDP Senators-elect are working for the emergency of the anointed candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC).
The Senator-elect for Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, also disclosed that the G-5 Governors who met with President Bola Tinubu on Thursday have assured him that their Senators-elect will work with APC.
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He, however, admitted there are some PDP Senators-elect that are trying to halt his party’s wish but added that they are in the minority, as most of them are in favour of a Christian Senate President.
Speaking during the chat, Umahi said: “Constitutionally going by the Senate rules, I don’t think that Yari has the constitutional requirements to stand that election. We are not bothered about that. We are bothered about the fact that we went through a very tough election because of the reason of Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“I am not in PDP but I can assure you that over 70 percent of PDP Senators-elect are working with us. This is a fact. For example, the G-5 Governors just met with the President yesterday and assured Mr President of the commitment of their Senators working with us and of course their Senators are working with us.
“And so the PDP could do their meetings but the most important thing is that a lot of the PDP Senators-elect have decided to put the interest of the nation first before talking about the issue of personal interest. So that’s how it stands.”