PDP and Labour Party again vow to frustrate Akpabio, Abass as APC’s choice for 10th assembly leadership
There is a new twist in the 10th assembly leadership tussle as the main opposition parties – Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted on frustrating the All Progressives Congress (APC) anointed candidates. In the just-concluded elections, the ruling APC secured over 170 of the 360 seats in the green chamber, the highest by […]
There is a new twist in the 10th assembly leadership tussle as the main opposition parties – Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted on frustrating the All Progressives Congress (APC) anointed candidates.
In the just-concluded elections, the ruling APC secured over 170 of the 360 seats in the green chamber, the highest by any party. The PDP came second with over 100 seats, the LP with over 35 seats, the NNPP with about 20.
Many APC lawmakers have since indicated interest to emerge the next Speaker of the House. They include Benjamin Kalu, Ahmed Wase, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Yusuf Gagdi, Aliyu Betara, Tajudeen Abbas, Abdulraheem Olawuyi, Sani Jaji, Princess Onuoha, amongst others.
NEW: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Also, Senators Abdulaziz Yari, Orji Kalu, Godswill Akpabio have also showed interest in becoming the next Senate President after Ahmad Lawan.
However, the APC officially zoned the Senate President to the South-South (Akpabio) Deputy Senate President to the North-West, Barau Jibrin. The party also zoned the Speaker position to the North-West (Abass), and Deputy Speaker to the South-East (Kalu).
Many APC hopefuls rejected the party’s position and called for a review of the formula to cover the North Central geopolitical zone and not two positions for the North-West but the party chieftains continue to argue that the North-West gave the President the highest vote and therefore deserves to be compensated.
There was also a rejection from the opposition parties to the endorsement of APC’s preferred candidates.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said it was keeping the specifics about its plans for the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly a secret for strategic reasons.
It stated that it has concluded work with other opposition parties to vote for common candidates in both chambers when the election of Presiding Officers is conducted on Tuesday, vowing to maximise the majority status of all opposition parties.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said: “With regards to the current race for Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, it is instructive to note that the opposition parties put together form a strong majority in the National Assembly and we are very mindful of that. PDP leadership is working together with our members-elect and opposition parties in the two chambers.
“Irrespective of the on-going and claims in the media, I want to inform you that PDP has a clear direction, which we hold close to our chest. Our members are united in that direction and it will show on the floor of both Houses of the National Assembly on Tuesday.”
UPDATE: You can receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp, click “HERE” to join our group.
The PDP spokesman equally explained that the party remains focused on its ongoing quest to reclaim its stolen presidential mandate.
He said: “We are not taking our eyes off the fact that the process of the 2023 presidential election is still ongoing at the Presidential Election Petition Court and other election petition tribunals across the country.”
Similarly, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, the only Labour Party (LP) governor, yesterday, met behind closed doors with senators and House of Representatives-elect to deliberate on the choice of the National Assembly leadership.
The parley held in Abuja came barely three hours after President Tinubu held a meeting with members of the opposition political parties to canvass support for his preferred candidates.
LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, who spoke at the start of the meeting, acknowledged that there had been a series of consultations on the issue relating to the choice of the NASS leadership, adding that the party plans to vote en bloc on Tuesday.
Abure disclosed that the lawmakers-elect would decide on their preferred choice for the leadership of the National Assembly either today or tomorrow.
He expressed gratitude to the governor over the consultative meeting, adding that it behooves them to live up to the expectations of the electorate.
Victor Ogene, LP leader in the House, said the party had yet to decide on a particular aspirant, but once that decision is made, it would be a bloc vote.
“The LP has yet to decide on a particular candidate, but I can assure you that we are going to vote en bloc, the consultation is on. I do not know those we will vote for yet, but I know those we will not vote for,” he said.
Ogene said that at the end of the day, one candidate would emerge and it was going to be from the ruling APC.
“I just want to tell you that we will not be railroaded into choosing anybody; it will be a conscious decision. While we would be opposed to any undue interference or influence in choosing our leaders, we will go for a Speaker that would be accountable to all members of the 10th Assembly,” he declared.
Share News with us via WhatsApp: 07041591544 or Email: intelregion.com@gmail.com
Join Our Social Media Channels:
- WhatsApp: iR News Room
- Facebook: Intel Region News
- Twitter: @intelregion
- Instagram: @intelregion
- Telegram: iR News Room
What's Your Reaction?
