Tinubu deployed foot soldiers to ensure Akpabio emerged Senate President – Ndume

The senator representing Borno south district, Ali Ndume, has revealed how President Bola Tinubu “sneaked out” to persuade some lawmakers to support his preferred candidates for the 10th National Assembly leadership positions.

Ndume, speaking on Tuesday in an interview with Channels Television, said Tinubu deployed his “foot soldiers” to deliver his preferred candidates.

Earlier, Godswill Akpabio was elected Senate president after polling 63 votes to defeat Abdulazeez Yari, who garnered 46 votes.

The lawmaker representing Zaria constituency in Kaduna, Tajudeen Abbas, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Benjamin Kalu from Abia state, was elected deputy.

Reacting to the development, Ndume said Tinubu is an “experienced” politician, adding that he convinced many lawmakers to support his preferred candidates.

“When I contested last time (2019), everybody was on the other side because the party and president endorsed Ahmad Lawan,” he said.

“It is almost a repetition of the same thing, the party and the president had a preferred candidate but this president (Tinubu) is an experienced politician who played a lot of politics.

“He deployed his foot soldiers to compliment our (campaign team of Akpabio) efforts and that made a difference. The vice president assisted us.

“He called some people. He even went to some people. It is politics. He sneaked out to visit some people and begged them to support. He has his reasons and they were convincing.”