Umahi after dropping his senate presidential bid, told journalists he withdrew after president-elect, Tinubu, told him not to run
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi, has said he is pulling out of the senate presidential race after consultations with party chieftains.
He also said he will now be backing former minister of Niger Delta affairs and ex-governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio for the position.
Umahi who will be a first-time senator when the 10th senate is inaugurated in June, made this known while speaking with reporters after a meeting with Akpabio on Friday, where he also disclosed he is not considering the post of deputy senate president.
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The senator-elect went on to say he met with president-elect, Bola Tinubu, who advised him not to run.
“My brother (Akpabio) came to consult with me,” he said.
“Yesterday, I saw the president-elect on his invitation and he told me that he is already committed, and that please ‘don’t run’ and I accepted and stepped down for my brother, senator Akpabio.
“He is my consensus candidate. I also step down for him as the deputy senate president.”
Prior to Umahi’s withdrawal from the race, Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had assured Akpabio will be the next senate president.
Some political analysts have also argued the outgoing Ebonyi governor might have stepped down because of senate’s standing orders, which favour ranking lawmakers – returning senators with legislative experience.
Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume recently said Akpabio is the president’s preferred choice. He, however, did not state if he was referring to the president-elect or President Muhammadu Buhari.
“As you can see, I am leading the campaign for Akpabio because he is the president’s preferred candidate and we have to put the interest of the country, the party, above any other interest,” he said.
