10th Senate: APC not aware of selection of principal officers – National Chairman

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu has said the party was not consulted in the selection of the Senate majority caucus leaders for the tenth National Assembly.

Adamu said this on Tuesday during a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) and Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) at the Party Headquarters, Abuja.

Earlier, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced the names of the leaders for strategic positions in the Senate. While Ekiti Central lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, was named the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Dave Umahi from Ebonyi South was picked as the Deputy Majority Leader.

Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) was also announced as Chief Whip and Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South) as the Deputy Whip.

The ruling party National Chairman said the NWC was not carried along in the nomination process as the practice should be.

According him, “I am just hearing rumour from news online that there has been an announcement in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The national headquarters of the party and the NWC has not been given any such information or communicated about the choice of the remaining offices.

“And until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions. So whatever announcement is done either from the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat”.

Speaking on the purpose of the meeting, the National Chairman said, “Along with the caucus, the National Advisory Council will give you the list that has been prepared and make sure that every state is represented. And we will give you the knowledge of it and advice. You will also be given the benefits of all the detailed accounts from April 2022 to April 2023. The PCC account has been audited and it has been submitted to the INEC by the party.

Meanwhile, the agenda for the meeting with the NWC and PGF is aimed at getting members of the PGF, a critical organ of the party to endorse yet to be approved audit report submitted to the NWC by an external audit firm engaged by Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC.

In his response, the Chairman Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodimma on behalf of the governors expressed commitment to working for the greater good of the Party and Nigerians.

“We are loyal to the party completely and we assure the leadership of the party that all the governors here are constructive partners to the job of building our part and are willing to work with the party and submit to the ideas and norms of the party .

“We are ready to market these policies to critical stakeholders, the labour, the political class, the private sector into understanding the benefits of certain decisions that have been taken off by the government”.