10th Senate: It was a contest against Tinubu, Shettima, APC governors, not Akpabio – Yari
Former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, said he was defeated in the race for the Senate Presidency due to a coordinated effort led by President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and several APC governors.
“I never dreamt of not winning. From the day we started counting those with us, we had a significant number that showed we were in the majority. But you should not forget that I didn’t contest against Akpabio because if I knew I would not be up against Akpabio, I would not have joined the race,” Yari said.
He further asserted that multiple high-ranking government officials, including the President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the governors, were all against him and those who supported him.
Yari expressed hope that in the President’s second tenure, a democratic process would take center stage in the parliament and that he would treat all senators equally, as he had promised during his inauguration.
“Everyone was involved. The president was involved, the vice president was involved, the secretary to the government of the federation was involved, the governors, all against me alone and those that supported me.
“I hope that in his second tenure, the president will allow democratic process to take centre stage in the parliament. He said he has a preferred candidate but the right thing for him as a leader was to accept everyone as his own. He shouldn’t show difference. He said during his swearing in that he would do right to all manner of people. I should be among those he was referring to but with this outcome, it shows there is betrayal and inducement whether to scare (some senators) or some other ways.
“You know National Assembly election is not the type you’ll say there is rigging. There are 109 senators and these are matured people in their own rights who have their own decisions and convictions. So, as a Muslim, I’ve accepted the outcome of the election in good faith,” he added.
