Senator Ali Ndume
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has rejected the idea of Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate of the Senate caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lawan’s allies in the parliament including Senator Yusuf Yusuf (APC, Taraba), Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger) and a former lawmaker, Senator Abdullahi Gumel, are said to be pushing for his endorsement.
The move, which started before the Senators’ Sallah recess, has divided the parliament that is made of 71 APC, 37 PDP and one YPP member.
The senators last week embarked on a recess to enable them to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr. They are to resume on Tuesday, May 10.
In a chat with Daily Trust, Ndume said those behind the idea had not contacted him, because “They know my position.”
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Ndume, who is leading the presidential campaign team of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said it’s the turn of the South to rule the nation.
“I have nothing against Ahmad Lawan; he is my colleague but I have everything against injustice. I won’t support even my biological brother. Fielding a northerner is tantamount to injustice and tantamount to a third term. The so-called northern elders that are pushing it are doing so to perpetuate injustice.
“It’s the turn of the South and we have to support them to actualise this. I’m disappointed with those that are pushing this. I had since taken position even before my alignment with Amaechi,” he said.
Other aspirants eyeing the APC ticket include Dave Umahi (Ebonyi ), Dr Chris Ngige (Anambra), Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba (Imo), Senator Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Ihechukwu Dallas Chima (Abia), Usman Iwu (Imo), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim (Kwara), Mr Tein Jack-Rich (Rivers), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Adamu Garba II (Adamawa)
The ruling party had fixed its primaries for May 30 and June 1, where its flag bearer for the presidency would be elected.
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