- As Akpabio announces surprised names
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – High wired political manoeuvres took the centre stage on Tuesday as immediate past Governors of Rivers and Sokoto States, Nyesom Wike and Aminu Tambuwal, lost out in their supremacy battle to control the minority caucus leadership in the 10th Senate.
Both former governors and allies turned political foes were left stranded as the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio reeled out the names of those pencilled down as new leaders of the minority caucus.
Ahead of the leadership selection process by the minority parties, Wike had reportedly held a series of meetings with Senator Akpabio, pushing for a particular candidate to occupy the seat.
On his part, Senator Tambuwal’s interest in becoming the Minority Leader was said to have enjoyed the backing of the former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The tables however turned against the duo with the Senate President announcing the following names:
Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau)
Minority Leader
Senator Oyewumi Olalere (PDP, Osun)
Deputy Minority Leader
Senator Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia)
Minority Whip
Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano)
Deputy Minority Whip
