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Senate Presidency: Desperate Senator-elect lobbies with dollar amid swell of aspirants
As Senators-elect await the All Progressives Congress, APC’s zoning of the 10th National Assembly principal officers which may be pronounced before the inauguration in June this year, lobby for the seat of Senate Presidency among the old and new lawmakers keep turning a new twist by the day.
CAPITAL POST investigation penultimate week revealed that some Senators-elect jostling for the Office of the Senate President have begun reaching themselves with appeals for consideration.
Surprisingly, therefore, our correspondent gathered that a non-ranking Senator-elect from a State in the North West geopolitical zone out of desperation offered dollars during his engagement with them.
A newly elected Senator and a beneficiary who didn’t want his name mentioned while expressing shock said, “a newly elected colleague from North Western part of the country welcomed us with $10,000 each before revealing his interest in the Senate Presidency.
“This was after each Senator-elect got Certificate of Return on Wednesday last week”.
“This really is a mouth watery gift and as things are gradually unfolding, we look forward to see that day after we might have been inaugurated early June”, he said.
Though, not comfortable with the development, he wondered at the desperation with which some aspirants have started reaching out without the pronouncement on zoning by the party that brought them to the Senate.
He feared, if some of them would listen to the party structure to guide them with regards to the zoning of principal officers, noting that he didn’t want a repeat of the 8th Senate when Senator Olubukola Saraki emerged as Senate President with the embattled opposition party’s Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy against the interest of the governing party with its attendant four year rancorous 8th Senate.
According to him, a ranking Senator among the aspirants was also said to have promised returning lawmakers and all APC Senators-elect, juicy committee membership if they supported his aspiration.
At least, 101 Senate seats have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission with the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) having 56.
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), has 27 Senators; the Labour Party has five; the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has two; Social Democratic Party, SDP has two, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Young Progressives Party, YPP, have one Senator each.
CAPITAL POST reports that the number of aspirants to the seat of Senate Presidency keep swelling by the day with the incumbent President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan interested in retaining his office.
Lawan, who is representing Yobe North Senatorial district has a group lobbying subtly on his behalf.
It is not certain, if Lawan who comes from the North East with the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima would be retained. The same equation also caught up with Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume representing Borno South Senatorial district who is also eyeing Senate Presidency.
Also, the Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, Senator Sani Musa, (APC, Niger East), popularly known as 313, who is well cherished by most of his colleagues, is in the race.
He is a second timer, and having come from Niger State in the North Central Senatorial district, Musa has bright chance for the position because his state produced the highest number of votes in the North Central during the presidential election.
Senator Barau Jibrin, APC, Kano North, who is the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, is equally in the race.
He was recently reported to have hosted some Senators-elect to a lunch at the Transcorp Hilton to seek their support.
The Senate Chief Whip and former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, is also said to be interested in the position. As he was seen expressing his ambition to some few senators-elect after the interactive meeting on Monday in Abuja.
Others are, Senators Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State; Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; and Senator Danjuma Goje, APC, Gombe Central.
Former deputy Senate leader, Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi State; former Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; Aliyu Wammako, APC Sokoto North; and Sahabi Ya’u, APC Zamfara North, are also said to be in the race.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Senator Basheer Lado, for redefining the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, stating that, for the first time in a long while, the office is fully meeting its expectations.
Speaking during his visit to the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters accompanied by distinguished senators, Akpabio described the visit as a significant step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.
He praised the Special Adviser and his team for maintaining the confidentiality of communications between the President and Senate, and also, ensuring a seamless flow of information. He further emphasized that the office is now more result-oriented.
Additionally, he acknowledged the office’s diligent efforts in tracking all Bills passed by the Senate and assented to by the President, underscoring its critical role in legislative efficiency.
Expressing his satisfaction, Akpabio noted that he and the Senate delegation were proud of the office’s achievements and looked forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout the administration.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Senator Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Senator Akpabio.
In his remarks, Senator Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He lauded Akpabio for his unwavering dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—defending it with clarity, articulating it with passion, and advancing it through legislative action.
Ahead of the 2025 political party Congresses, Plateau State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) stakeholders has endorsed the defection of the candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections and the leader of Justice and Rebirth, Barr Gyang Zi SAN, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the view to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of the enlarge meeting of the stakeholders from Plateau North senatorial zone at the residence of Barr. Gyang Zi in Rayfield Jos.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Ayiki Sati Director General, Justice and Rebirth and
Barr. Samuel Galadima- 2024 Chairmanship candidate of Jos East LGA among others said the call became imperative on the sideline of the leadership tussle at the National Level which violates the core principles and values for the formation of the Party as an alternative for Nigeria for the protection, sustenance of democracy and Social Justice.
They regretted that the leadership tussle has also divided the party into factions leaving party loyalists and supporters in the state of despondency and confusion not knowing where they belong.
Our correspondent reports that the gathering included LP candidates from the 2023/2024 general elections, party executives, and support groups from the six local government areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
Besides, the focus of the discussions was centered on the state of the Labour Party at both national and state levels and the need for political realignment ahead of the 2025 party congresses and conventions.
The stakeholders further frowned at the structural weaknesses in LP and resolved to advise Barr Gyang Zi, to leave the party and join the APC while expressing confidence that the APC would provide him with a platform to advance good governance in the state .
The communique also emphasized the importance of political consultations, particularly with APC leaders at both state and national levels. It called for collaboration with Plateau State APC leaders, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, Sen. Diket Plang, and other party officials.
According to the communique, supporters of Barr Gyang Zi also pledged to mobilize grassroots support for the APC, stating that their leader’s defection would strengthen the party in the state.
They urged the APC leadership to formally receive Gyang Zi and his supporters into the party, marking their official transition from the Labour Party.
Stakeholders also reiterated the need for inclusive governance, ensuring that youths, women, and less privileged individuals are sidelined in the democratic process and accordingly officially denounced their membership in the Labour Party, declaring their support for the APC.
They assured that all LP structures aligned with Gyang Zi would follow suit, shifting their loyalty to the ruling party in the state and at the National level.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has extended his heartfelt felicitation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the occasion of his 73rd birthday.
Governor Ododo in statement signed by his special adviser on media, Ismaila Isah described President Tinubu as a statesman whose leadership and dedication to national development continue to inspire hope and progress across Nigeria.
He commended the President’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is driving economic reforms, strengthening national unity, and advancing the nation’s democratic values.
“On behalf of the government and people of Kogi State, I celebrate Mr President and our father on this special day. Your resilience, visionary leadership, and patriotism have laid a strong foundation for Nigeria’s growth. We deeply appreciate your tireless efforts in repositioning our country for sustainable development,” Governor Ododo stated.
He further reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s administration and prayed for continued wisdom, strength, and good health for the President as he leads Nigeria toward greater prosperity, sustainable development, peace and stability.
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