Ace journalist and political and security analyst, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju has said that Nigeria may witness a big surprise on the floor of the Senate at the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday if the president does not do his best to get Senator-elect Abdul Aziz Yari to pull out of the race.
Analysing the contest for the leadership of the Senate on the popular programme, Journalists Hangout on TVC on Sunday, Kolade-Otitoju said a dark horse, Senator Osita Izunaso may emerge as the President of the 10th Senate as he and Yari belong to the same formidable camp.
He noted that while being backed by the president is an undoubted strength lawmakers sometimes spring a surprise.
He admitted that the Akpabio ticket has issues with many senators-elect, while for Yari his religion, Islam, is the major issue being canvased against his aspiration.
However, being in the same camp with Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, the multi-award-winning journalist said Izunaso could be the major beneficiary of the fierce tussle between the two leading aspirants, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Yari if the two are convinced to drop their ambitions.
He noted that Senator Yari might in hearkening to the need for balance and national cohesion drop his aspiration in support of Senator Osita Izunaso, a Christian from the South-East.
Corroborating this position, the Publisher of Excellence Magazine, Mayor Akinpelu said the fact that Senator Izunaso doesn’t have any baggage places him above Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who is also in the Yari camp.
Akinpelu agreed that Akpabio’s cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have made him to lose critical support among some senators-elect.
They saw a likelihood of a possible change of direction by the party and the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In their thoughts, if both Akpabio and Yari were to pull out of the contest, Senator Osita Izunaso would win the support of the majority in the 109-member Senate to emerge as the Senate President.