Politics

National Assembly Leadership: Tinubu, APC leaders meet lawmakers-elect in Aso Rock

Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2023

Tinubu, Shettima Visit Buhari In Katsina

Coalition backs North-Central Senate presidency
calls for Adamu’s resignation

Barring any last-minute change, the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will meet with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima; senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect on its platform, today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This was disclosed by the APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in an invitation sent to Tinubu, Shettima and the lawmakers-elect.

While the meeting is scheduled for 2:00p.m., invited guests were directed to be seated before 12noon, two hours before commencement of the parley.

The guests were also urged to come alone and with the Certificates of Return issued to them by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after they were declared winners in the February 25 polls.

“The meeting is strictly on invitation. All invited guests are expected to arrive early to allow for screening and be seated before 12noon,” the notice stated.

Though agenda of the meeting was not stated, a source who craved anonymity, said the meeting is connected with the leadership of the 10th National Assembly that will be inaugurated in June.

Also to be discussed are issues of zoning of the Senate presidency, Speaker of the House of Representatives and other offices in the National Assembly, such as the Deputy President of the Senate; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and eight principal positions in both the upper and lower chambers.

The source explained that APC is trying to avoid a situation that played out in 2015, where Senator Bukola Saraki emerged as Senate President against the party’s wish.

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Saraki, who represented Kwara Central Senatorial District in the eighth Assembly, emerged as Senate President when 51 APC senators were at the International Conference Centre waiting for a truce meeting reportedly called by the leadership of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was elected unanimously by 57 senators present at the session and sworn into office on June 9, 2015 with Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Deputy Senate President.

Meanwhile, indications have emerged that ahead of the zoning of offices of presiding officers for the National Assembly, crisis may be looming in the ruling party as calls for the immediate resignation from office by the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, heighten.

A group under the aegis of Civil Society Organisations of Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA) has asked Adamu, to, as a matter of urgency, obey calls for his resignation in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, just as it said that his resignation would assuage the feelings of Christians.

The group, in a statement signed yesterday in Abuja by its convener, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, and Secretary, Sina Akadiri, it said Adamu’s exit, as APC National Chairman, would ensure power balancing in the incoming Tinubu-led administration.

According to the group, Adamu’s resignation would also be a great opportunity for APC to assuage the feelings of Christians towards the same faith arrangement of the party in the recently concluded presidential election.

The group also hailed the National Vice Chairman, Northwest of APC, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, on his call for power balancing in the incoming APC-led government and his call for the resignation of Adamu.

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Recall that Lukman had at the weekend advocated for the replacement of Adamu with a Christian, as part of measures to balance the incoming administration of Tinubu.

As the jostle for allocation of National Assembly leadership gets intense ahead of May 29 inauguration of the new government, the President-elect is being prevailed upon to support the Southeast for the Senate presidency.

Tinubu is billed to table the issue of ceding the seat to the Southeast geopolitical zone at the parley with APC leadership and lawmakers-elect today.

Among those touted to occupy the seat is former Abia State governor and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

APC founding member, Osita Okechukwu, who confirmed the development, argued that the move was in tandem with the need to entrench equity and fairness in the polity.

Two other APC Senators-elect, Osita Izunaso (Imo) and outgoing Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, are billed to contest the seat with Kalu, notwithstanding his ranking status in the upper legislative chamber.

He said: “It’s strategic to zone the President of the Senate to Southeast, based on equity, fairness and natural justice. Nigeria is on a tripod and since Southeast didn’t get the president or vice, it becomes strategic to start a process of reconciliation and recovery with the zone.

“Agreed, Southeast didn’t vote for the APC; however, the leadership must think of tomorrow. Luckily, we have three Senators-elect, two of whom are in the ranking cadre – Kalu and Izunaso. Let’s choose one of them.

“At least, nobody will blame us that it’s because we did not have any Senator, which was the case in 2015. We, the foundation members of APC, need to be accommodated by our brothers and sisters in other geopolitical zones.” Guardian

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Politics

Atiku leads Tambuwal, El-Rufai, others to Buhari as 2027 election draws near

Published

2 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Trends Admin

Former President Muhammadu Buhari and Former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar

Atiku leads Tambuwal, El-Rufai, others to Buhari as 2027 election draws near

Former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna house.

According to a video seen by our correspondent on X, other politicians who visited Buhari on Friday included former Minister of Communications Isa Pantami, former Governor of Imo State Achike Udenwa, former Governor of Benue State Senator Gabriel Suswam, and former Governor of Adamawa State Jibrilla Bindow, among others.

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Atiku, who took to his verified X page on Friday to disclose the visit, described it as a “wonderful time” with the former president.

Atiku wrote, “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations.

“Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015-2023.

“It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up (to the extent that my ribs were hurting) with his peculiar humour.”

The PDP chieftain, however, did not disclose the details of the meeting’s agenda and its outcome.

Atiku leads Tambuwal, El-Rufai, others to Buhari as 2027 election draws near

Politics

You will enjoy APC, Okpebholo assures defecting PDP lawmakers

Published

1 day ago

April 10, 2025

Trends Admin

Governor Monday Okpebholo

You will enjoy APC, Okpebholo assures defecting PDP lawmakers

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has welcomed lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state’s House of Assembly.

Okpebholo assured them of a conducive environment to operate and collaborate for the state’s development.

The governor gave the assurance when he received Hon. Kaycee Osamwonyi, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, who defected to the APC.

Osamwonyi, representing Uhunmwonde State Constituency, was received into the party by the Chairman of the APC Edo State chapter, Jarrett Tenebe.

Governor Okpebholo commended the lawmakers for joining the APC, stating that their defection has strengthened the party.

He expressed his desire to collaborate with them to drive development and improve the lives of Edo people.

“We congratulate you on returning home. Your coming is a plus for the party, as we have five of you who have joined, and you have made our party stronger.

“A lot of people from other political parties are ready to join our party, and soon there will be a carnival. I seek your help to drive development, and together, we will develop the state and make life better for our people.

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“Uhunmwonde Local Government is very special to me, and together we can develop the area and open it for growth and development.

“The next election, especially the 2027 presidential election, we are ready in Edo State. We have kick-started our own campaigns for the president in 2027. We have to mobilise the youth in our state, and you are part of the youth. I promise you that you will enjoy our party, as you have chosen to join us,” he said.

The governor highlighted his administration’s developmental strides, aiming to boost the state’s economy and enhance the lives of its citizens.

He specifically mentioned Uhunmwonde Local Government, stating his commitment to its growth and development.

Okpebholo also announced the kickoff of the campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, calling on the youth to join the party’s efforts.

Also speaking, Tenebe stated that the party is now in full control of the State Assembly, as it now has the majority of the members in the house.

“Hon. Osamwonyi joined the party following the developmental strides your administration has achieved in the few months you have led the state,” he said.

Osamwonyi, on his part, said his decision to join the party was a result of the disunity in his former party, the PDP, from the national to unit level, as well as the achievements of Governor Okpebholo in a very short time in office.

“The division in my party, the PDP, made me join the APC. For me, it is a homecoming, as I was once in the APC. Your developmental strides attracted me back home, as I want the best for my people.

“The several projects captured in the budget for the Uhunmwonde people are impressive. I had no choice but to join the party for the development of my people,” he said.

You will enjoy APC, Okpebholo assures defecting PDP lawmakers

Politics

Lamidi Apapa Announces Takeover as Labour Party National Chairman

Published

2 days ago

April 9, 2025

Trends Admin

Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa

Lamidi Apapa Announces Takeover as Labour Party National Chairman

Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa has declared himself the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling as justification for his takeover.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Apapa cited the Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1217/2024 and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, which he claims validates his position.

According to him, the apex court ruling invalidates all decisions and actions taken by Barrister Julius Abure since April 4, 2023.

“The Supreme Court lambasted the two lower courts for exceeding their jurisdiction,” Apapa said during the briefing. “They rightly noted that issues regarding the internal leadership of a political party are non-justiciable and outside the jurisdiction of the courts.”

Relying on Article 14(2)(a)(b) of the Labour Party Constitution, Apapa asserted that, as the most senior Deputy National Chairman, he is now constitutionally empowered to assume leadership in an acting capacity. Alongside his announcement, he named Alhaji Farouk Umar Ibrahim as the Acting National Secretary of the party.

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Apapa also revealed that the National Working Committee (NWC), as constituted in 2022, will convene on Monday, April 14, 2025. At the top of the agenda is a new strategic roadmap for the party, including plans to zone the National Chairmanship to the North and the Secretary position to the South.

“We are also taking proactive steps to resuscitate the moribund Board of Trustees and make it functional again. The time has come for real internal democracy and inclusion in our great party,” Apapa declared.

He disclosed that preparations are underway for fresh congresses at all levels—ward, local government, state, and national—aimed at re-establishing grassroots participation and internal legitimacy. According to him, only financial members will be eligible to vote or contest.

It should be recalled that a separate faction loyal to 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti convened a National Executive Meeting earlier today.