Some members of the national working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) do not agree with the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, over his position on the selection of the National Assembly principal officers.
The Senate after its Sallah break resumed on Tuesday to announce the emergence of the senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele as its majority leader.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio after welcoming colleagues said the APC caucus of the senate after due consultation had emerged with their leadership which he said should be the fulcrum of their businesses in the chamber.
Akpabio also confirmed Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume as the chief whip of the 10th senate and Senator David Umahi by all consent will act as the deputy leader of the senate and Senator Lola Ashiru as deputy senate whip.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, unveiled Julius Ihonvbere, lawmaker representing Owan east/Owan west of Edo, as the majority leader and Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, legislator representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi, was named the deputy majority leader.
Reacting to the development, the APC national chairman, Adamu had said the leadership of the party was not carried along in the nomination of the principal officers of the National Assembly and House of Reps.
The APC chairman spoke on Tuesday evening during a meeting with some governors on the platform of the party.
While addressing the issue, a member of the APC NWC said that Adamu was cautioned by the governors to resolve the matter with the national assembly leadership.
“During the meeting, many governors who spoke on the issue cautioned the chairman and urged him to reach out to the leadership of the national assembly and resolve the matter amicably,” said the NWC member as quoted by TheCable but who preferred to remain anonymous.
“It was unanimously believed at the meeting that the emergence of leaders of the two chambers of the national assembly is with the blessing of the president.
“It would appear that the national chairman has made up his mind not to work harmoniously with President Asiwaju as he repeatedly keeps disputing decisions he has made towards constituting his government.
“We, therefore, distance ourselves and the NWC from such actions that clearly undermine the smooth take-off of the APC federal government under the leadership of President Asiwaju and call on the national chairman to desist from such action.”
Senator Bamidele, on Wednesday, however stated that a single political party cannot determine the leadership positions in the 10th Senate.
Bamidele said this while clarifying the notion people have that a political party has the sole right to do that while also dismissing talks that both the majority and minority leadership positions were sent from the presidency.
He stated that apart from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), six other parties had elected members in the 10th Senate.
