Northern Nigerian Breaking News

10th NASS Leadership : APC moves to pacify aggrieved aspirants

The All Progressives Congress has began negotiations with Senators contesting the Presidency of the Senate for the 10th National Assembly.

APC National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, during a meeting with aggrieved Senate presidency aspirants in Abuja,on Thursday, said the party would study the protest letter submitted by the aspirants as part of fresh consultations.

Adamu said the party would study the letter with a view to making amends where necessary.

The lawmakers in attendance at the meeting included a former Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; the senator-elect representing Imo West, Osita Izunaso; Sani Musa (Niger East), Umar Sadiq (Kwara North) and the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu.

This is coming 24 hours after angry contestants for the position of the  Speaker of the House of Representatives stormed the national secretariat to query the decision by the ruling party and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

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The development followed the rejection of the party’s adoption of a former Minority Senate leader and ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, for the position of Senate president in the 10th National Assembly.

The APC National Working Committee had endorsed Akpabio from the South-South geopolitical zone as the President of the 10th Senate and Tajudeen Abass from the North-West as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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The party also selected Senator Barau Jibrin from the North-West as the Deputy Senate president while Benjamin Kalu from the South-East was nominated as deputy speaker.

However the decision was greeted with protests and anger by other contestants, particularly North-Central lawmakers whose region was sidelined by the party leadership in the power-sharing deal.

The contestants demanded fresh zoning of the principal offices.

But responding to complaints during the meeting with aspirants, Adamu acknowledged their objection which he said would be considered by the NWC.

Speaking at the parley which had in attendance the National Deputy Chairman (North) Abubakar Kyari, National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore and others, Adamu said, “As Chairman of the APC and members of the National Working Committee, we take responsibility.

“As Chairman, I take responsibility for what has gone on air. I don’t have to share with you what not to share. I take absolute responsibility for that. And in that spirit, I welcome you to this office on behalf of my colleagues.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), we received members of the lower chamber who are also contesting for the position of the Speakers in the lower chamber and we had similar pronouncements – words of disagreement from them.

“Yes, there were no sufficient or adequate consultations with you who are contesting and it is a simple principle of democracy that you get views and opinions. But the circumstances that we found ourselves in after the elections frustrated our desire.’’

As democrats, Adamu said the party leadership would go back to the drawing board and review the decisions taken regarding the zoning.

He stated,  “We will go back to the drawing board. We owe our party that duty to take a look at whether what was done could not be changed. What was done needs some changes or reviews. We will take a look at what necessary compelled us to do by the grace of God,’’ Adamu assured the aggrieved contestants.

The APC chairman urged the senators to “hold the fire until the last word is heard from us,” noting that the NWC members are the custodians of the party “but we are not acting alone.”

He noted that “the voice of the President-elect is an essential voice,” adding, “We must accommodate him, the best we can. I will not compromise on that.”

Adamu promised to address the issues raised by his visitors when the President-elect, Bola Tinubu returns to the country.

“We will go back to the drawing board and put our heads together again and see what we will get,” he appeased the senators.

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