Tinubu, APC target consensus Senate President, Speaker, favour Christian to lead Red Chamber – Newstrends
Connect with us

Politics

Tinubu, APC target consensus Senate President, Speaker, favour Christian to lead Red Chamber

Published

on

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with APC National Chairman, Abdullahi-Adamu

Tinubu, APC target consensus Senate President, Speaker, favour Christian to lead Red Chamber

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday kicked off the search for the 10th Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker.

The party is likely to adopt consensus in choosing the two principal officers, it was learnt.

According to a party source, consensus was proposed to avoid a rancorous contest and ensure unity and cohesion.

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) held a preliminary meeting at the Defence House, Abuja, temporary residence of the President-elect, on the zoning of the National Assembly principal offices.

Lobbying by aspirants for  positions  intensified.

After the crucial meeting, three contenders for Senate President – Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom Northwest), Senator Orji Kalu (Abia North),  and Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West); and Muktar Betara (Borno), who is eyeing the House Speaker, held meetings with the President-elect.

READ ALSO:

The major highlight of the crucial party meeting witnessed by some members of the APC National Assembly Caucus and lawmakers-elect was zoning.

At the meeting were Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, Kwara State Governor AbdulRasak Abdulrahman, the Deputy National Chairman (North),  Senator Abubakar Kyari, Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Also at the meeting were Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, and Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani.

Alighting from the meeting which lasted for two hours, an NWC member said: “Asiwaju and other leaders were here to inspect the facility, but seized the opportunity to have a meeting with the leadership of the NWC and NASS as regards zoning of the leadership of 10th National Assembly.”

He said the meeting could not conclude the deliberation, adding that party leaders agreed to make more consultations and reconvened later in the night.

Adamu declined comment, merely saying that they had a fruitful deliberation.

Asked if the meeting was able to fashion out a zoning formula, the party Chairman said: “Nigerians should be patient with the party. We should wait. What is good for the country is what is good for us as a party. We are only celebrating the victory of our party now.”

Sources close to the APC leaders said they were on the same page on the choice of the next chairman and deputy chairman of the National Assembly by consensus.

He added: “Consensus is being proposed to ensure that the contest is not acrimonious. APC does not want a situation where the race will lead to crisis.”

Also, party leaders, in utter sensitivity to religious factor, were disposed to the choice of a Christian Senate President, since the President-elect and his deputy, Senatorial Kashim Shettima, are Muslims.

READ ALSO:

According to the source, APC leaders were disposed to the equitable distribution of the six principal offices in the Red and Green Chambers among the six geo-political zones to foster inclusion and a sense of belonging.

Apart from the Senate President and House Speaker, other offices are Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker, Senate Majority Leader, House Majority Leader, Chief Whips and Deputy Chief Whips.

The source said: “The party noted the ambition of its senators and House members and contented that it is in order. The zoning of the Senate President was considered and there was the feeling that since the number one and two citizens are Muslims, the number three citizen should be a Christian.

In his view, the party also decided that there is no zone that will be left out in the distribution of the principal offices .

On which of the Southern zones should produce the Senate President,  the source said: “Majority is in favour of zoning of the slot to the Southsouth.”

He pointed out that “the party noted that it has seven senators from the region, apart from securing substantial votes during the election.

However, the source also stressed that there was also a strong case for Southeast, which produced six APC senators.

He added: “It was a lengthy deliberation. Party leaders favoured the zoning of the House Speaker to the Northwest, which gave the ruling party the highest number of votes during the elections.

“There was also a consideration for the zoning of the Deputy Senate President to the Northcentral and the Deputy House Speaker to the Southeast.

The belief of the party is that no zone should be left out.”

Tinubu, APC target consensus Senate President, Speaker, favour Christian to lead Red Chamber

The Nation

Politics

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

Published

on

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has shed light on his role in the removal of Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at a PDP gathering in Rivers State, Wike explained that his decision was fueled by Secondus’ opposition to Siminalayi Fubara’s governorship ambition in 2023.

According to Wike, Secondus had pushed for his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to secure the PDP ticket for the governorship position, a move Wike said he could not support. This, he revealed, was the primary reason he championed Secondus’ ouster from the party’s leadership.

Reflecting on the ongoing tensions between himself and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike accused Secondus and former Rivers Governor Celestine Omehia of hypocrisy. He alleged that the duo only began backing Fubara after benefiting personally from the relationship.

READ ALSO:

Wike, who was once a close ally of Fubara, claimed that Secondus and Omehia were the true enemies of the governor, not him. He criticized their actions, arguing that their newfound loyalty to Fubara was insincere.

“I heard Secondus recently in Bori, saying I awarded the Bori Internal Road as governor. I paid 50% with the hope that we had a governor we all supported to continue the projects,” Wike said.

He continued, “Secondus claimed his enemies are the governor’s enemies. But who are the enemies of the governor? Secondus, who initially opposed him becoming governor and wanted his cousin, Tele Ikuru, to get the position?

“I orchestrated Secondus’ removal as PDP National Chairman when he tried to impose his cousin as governor. Now he calls himself the governor’s friend while labeling me the enemy. To God be the glory,” Wike declared.

 

Wike: My fallout with Secondus was his opposition to Fubara

Continue Reading

Politics

APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

Published

on

APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has dismissed claims by former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) will significantly reduce APC’s votes in Kano State during the 2027 elections.

Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Abdullahi Abass, chairman of the state chapter of the party said Kwankwaso’s assertion is laughable and nothing but a mere daydream. Abass called on Kwankwaso to focus on reclaiming his membership in the NNPP rather than making unfounded claims.

The APC described Kwankwaso as a political refugee clinging to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in a futile attempt to regain relevance. They warned Kwankwaso that the APC would not allow a repeat of the alleged vote manipulation and allocation that created the impression of NNPP’s influence in Kano State during the 2023 general election.

READ ALSO:

“Our teeming supporters in the APC have no cause to worry about Kwankwaso, who has been booted out of the NNPP due to his cluelessness and self-centredness. We expect Kwankwaso to keep wondering why he has become a wanderer in the political terrain,” the party chair said.

“He ran away from APC because he couldn’t fit into our progressive ideals. His overbloated ego and domineering posture forced him to abandon the PDP, and he has now become a political refugee because the NNPP refused to accommodate him.”

Kwankwaso had on Wednesday received some political decampees at his residence. During the event, he claimed that the NNPP was now formidable enough to diminish APC’s influence in the state.

“If the PDP could struggle to receive 15, 000 votes in the 2023 Presidential elections in Kano, APC would not only receive below expectations but would receive the most embarrassing votes in the 2027 elections in Kano,” he stated

“NNPP achieved tremendous success in the presidential and governorship elections despite being a new political platform with a late start to its campaign. APC will be diminished in Kano in 2027,” he added.

 

APC reacts to Kwankwaso’s statement to reduce party’s votes in 2027

Continue Reading

Politics

Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

Published

on

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso: APC will struggle to get 15,000 votes in Kano

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso said his party would work tirelessly to ensure that the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC, struggle to secure less than 15,000 votes in Kano State.

The APC, has, meanwhile, asked Kwankwaso to channel his energies towards reclaiming his membership in the NNPP not day dreaming over claims to relegate the APC in the state.

Kwankwaso while receiving delegates of the NNPP from the Kano North senatorial district at his Miller Road Mansion in Kano, acknowledged the hard work of the party during the 2023 elections, which resulted in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, struggling to secure only 15,000 votes in Kano.

He said: “Now, it’s turn to diminish APC’s influence. We will work tirelessly to ensure their votes are reduced to less than 15,000 in Kano by 2027.”

He encouraged his supporters to remain focused on delivering results that would secure the party’s success in future elections.

READ ALSO:

The leader of the delegates, Abdul Bichi, told journalists that the visit was to renew their loyalty to the national leader of the NNPP, Kwankwaso and to distance themselves from former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi.

Abdul said they had parted ways with Bichi since his removal from office.

“It is true we are supporters of the former SSG, and we are from the same constituency as Dr. Bichi, but we have decided to distance ourselves from him since he is no longer with the government.

“We have come here to see our national leader and founder of Kwankwaso in solidarity and to renew our total loyalty to him. We have come to say we are not leaving our party. We are not going with the SSG,” Abdul said.

Continue Reading

Trending