The battle for the presidency of the 11th Senate is gathering momentum, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio rallying support for a second term while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma positions himself for a possible return to the National Assembly as a senator in 2027.
The contest is already generating political manoeuvring within the All Progressives Congress, with Akpabio publicly seeking President Bola Tinubu’s backing for his re-election and warning against attempts to alter the Senate’s leadership arrangement, while Uzodimma has declared his intention to contest a senatorial seat after his tenure as governor.
The emerging rivalry has also drawn in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has vowed not to support Uzodimma’s reported ambition to become Senate President, raising the stakes in the struggle over who will lead the upper chamber after the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio’s supporters have also begun making public declarations in his favour. During Thursday’s plenary, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno and Senator Cyril Fasuyi insisted that the Senate presidency was not open for contest, expressing confidence that Akpabio would return to the chamber with the majority of incumbent senators.
Monguno, who represents Borno North Senatorial District, extended the declaration to the office of the Deputy Senate President and other principal officers of the Senate.
Backing the position, Fasuyi, who represents Ekiti North Senatorial District, said the Senate presidency in the next assembly was already occupied.
“I hereby support the motion ably moved by Senator Monguno that the seat of the Senate President in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest. It is already occupied by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio,” Fasuyi said.
Akpabio subsequently asked senators whether the declaration reflected the chamber’s position. The response was audible when he called for those in support to say “aye”, while no audible opposition was recorded.
The exchange provided a public demonstration of support for Akpabio’s second-term ambition, although the declarations do not amount to a formal election for the leadership of the next Senate.
At the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House, Abuja, Akpabio had openly appealed to Tinubu to support his return as Senate President, urging the President to encourage lawmakers to seek re-election and continue backing his administration.
“Mr. President, you already know that we, the National Assembly, are with you. Please, take the advice of Governor Soludo seriously. He said if the cloth is not torn, why try to amend it? If you try to amend it, you are going to tear the cloth.
“If the National Assembly is so much with you, why not encourage them to come back and support you in your second term?,” Akpabio.
In an apparent reference to Uzodimma’s reported interest in the Senate presidency, Akpabio also cautioned the Imo governor to concentrate on his current responsibilities.
Uzodimma, however, confirmed at the same event that he would contest a Senate seat in the 2027 elections, declaring his intention to appear on the APC ballot.
The governor also called on APC members to close ranks, resolve internal disagreements, and work collectively for the party’s candidates ahead of the elections.
Although Uzodimma’s declaration concerned his senatorial ambition, his reported interest in succeeding Akpabio has fuelled speculation over the next Senate leadership, particularly given his position as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and his influence within the ruling party.
Wike had earlier declared his opposition to Uzodimma’s reported Senate presidency ambition during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout on September 21.
The FCT minister, who has been at odds with some APC governors over his proposed rainbow coalition, alleged that governors were seeking to influence the emergence of the next National Assembly leadership by determining who gets elected into the legislature.
“The APC in their ongoing party primaries the governors, in their own wisdom, believe that they should be able now to put senators or House of Reps members who they will dictate to who will become the next Senate President or the Speaker,” Wike said.
He specifically accused Uzodimma of pursuing the Senate presidency after leaving office as Imo governor.
The rivalry is unfolding against the backdrop of an earlier controversy over amendments to the Senate Standing Orders 2026.
On May 5, the Senate attempted to revise its rules to restrict eligibility for principal leadership positions, including the Senate presidency, to lawmakers with at least two terms of experience, one of which must be the immediately preceding term.
The proposed changes triggered criticism from some lawmakers, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and were widely interpreted as an attempt to limit the chances of aspirants who did not meet the proposed experience threshold.
The controversy was particularly significant because Akpabio himself did not meet the strict eligibility criteria being proposed for the leadership positions when he first emerged as Senate President.
Two days later, the Senate rescinded the controversial amendments after concerns were raised that some provisions could conflict with the 1999 Constitution.