Saraki and His Gang Dare APC Again; Rejects Lawan, Others

It seems Bukola Saraki and his gang of rebel lawmakers are bent on destroying the APC and what should be party supremacy in a democracy. The APC choice for the post of Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, seems to have lost out as the North-East caucus in the Senate has picked Senator Ali Ndume.

But the Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Olusola Adeyeye, was unanimously endorsed by the South-West caucus as the Chief Whip.

The need to have a senator from the South-South among the principal officers of the upper chamber of the National Assembly, also threw up Francis Alimikhena as the deputy Whip.

Investigation by one of our correspondents on Wednesday revealed that it was resolved at a meeting between the APC governors and Senators on Monday night that only a member from the South-South should occupy the position.

Adeyeye’s name was on the list of principal officers approved by the APC leadership as contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The letter was signed by the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, on Tuesday.

PUNCH gathered that no dissenting voice was recorded at the meeting of the South-West caucus when the issue was discussed on Tuesday afternoon.

It was also learnt that the Senators from the South-West, at their meeting with the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday night, agreed to make Adeyeye their representative.

Investigations on Wednesday revealed that 11 out of the 13 senators from the North-East voted in favour of Ndume (Borno South ) as the Senate Leader during their caucus meeting.

The party had zoned the position to the North-East but named Senator Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North), as its preferred candidate.

Also, the party’s choice for the post of Deputy Senate Leader, George Akume, was said to have been rejected by the caucus.

The caucus members were said to have argued that since Saraki, who is from the North Central had emerged as the senate president, it would be fair and just, to allow another zone take up the position.

Consequently, the North-West caucus met on Wednesday and endorsed the candidature of Bala Ibn Na’Allah ( Kebbi South), as the deputy leader.

When contacted, Lawan dissociated himself from the election conducted by the North-East caucus. He insisted that he would align himself with the position of the APC leadership.

He said, “I am not aware of any election. The party has spoken it is now left for the Senate president to make the announcement.”

In the House of Reps, former Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, from Lagos, may emerge Leader.

The Chief Whip will likely be Mohammed Monguno from Borno, while the Deputy Leader will go to a member from Kano, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa. Pally Iriase from Edo is likely to be the deputy whip.


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