Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma have been spotted sharing a friendly moment at an airport lounge during the second-term inauguration of Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The warm exchange comes amid social media speculation about an alleged political rift between the two All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders over the Senate presidency ahead of the 2027 general election.
The speculation intensified following the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday and subsequent remarks by Akpabio on the floor of the Senate.
Uzodimma has been linked to possible interest in the Senate presidency, although no formal declaration of such an ambition was cited in the report.
Akpabio had earlier warned unnamed individuals against aspiring to occupy positions that were not vacant. The Senate subsequently passed a motion affirming that there was no vacancy in its two top leadership positions.
The development fuelled discussions about possible political manoeuvring within the ruling party as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
However, the friendly interaction between Akpabio and Uzodimma at the airport lounge appeared to show no visible sign of tension between the two politicians.
Both men remain prominent figures in the APC, with Uzodimma also playing a role in efforts to reconcile groups supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Neither politician was reported to have publicly addressed the speculation surrounding their relationship in connection with the encounter.
Their cordial exchange has nevertheless drawn attention amid questions about the future of the Senate leadership and the political calculations unfolding within the ruling party ahead of the next general election.
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