The 10th Senate’s presidential election is a constitutional matter, according to the Amalgamated All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups, and senators-elect must be permitted to exercise their constitutional right to vote for the leaders of their choice.
Dr. Kailani Muhammad, the organization’s director general, made this statement on Wednesday in Abuja during a news conference about the problems with the election of the 10th Senate President.
The endorsement of Sen. Godswill Akpabio as the APC’s preferred candidate for the senatorial presidency was described by Muhammad, who is also the National Chairman of the Tinubu/Shettima Network (TSN), as rumors.
“The rumors of endorsement are in fact a complete diversion from the principles of democracy and must be abandoned by all.” The senators-elect’s freedom of choice must be respected and allowed to flourish.
“Democracy demands it,” he said, “and the senators-elect must be permitted to exercise their constitutional rights to vote for aspirants of their choice at the Senate Chambers.”
Following a meeting of the NWC on Monday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the APC leadership came to a decision regarding the two important positions in the National Assembly.
Following the meeting, the party’s national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, claimed that the NWC had come to an agreement on the zoning plan for the 10th National Assembly.
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“Today, Monday, May 8, 2023, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee met to discuss reports of consultations and meetings held with the president-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders, and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions, according to Morka.
The outcome of the meetings between the president-elect and the NWC leadership was noted by the NWC with respect. In order to guarantee the support of the candidates for leadership positions in the National Assembly and party members across the country, the NWC called for more extensive and improved consultation with the necessary stakeholders.
“The following is the zoning arrangement that was reported to the NWC: Speaker of the House of Representatives, North-west, Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna); Deputy Speaker, South-east, Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia); Senate President: South-South, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President: North-West, Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).
“During and after the current phase of leadership transition, we urge our party leaders, members, and all Nigerians to continue working for peace and progress of our nation.”
Muhammad recalled that the APC leadership had made a decision regarding the South-South zoning of the 10th Senate presidency about two days prior.
“Sen. Godswill Akpabio used this to assert that he has been chosen by the party as the top contender for the prestigious position. In order to clear up any confusion, as of right now, the APC does not recognize the concept of zoning.
“The Publicity Secretary of our great party, Mr. Felix Snooker, came out on Channels Television to debunk the statement and likened it to a damaging rumor in order to allay the fears of Nigerians and even the aspirants to the office.
“Felix categorically stated that the party and candidates are still consulting with other parties and negotiating to find a peaceful solution so that the nation can advance.
“Felix categorically stated that the party is working toward a peaceful resolution of the problem in order to ensure a developed Nigeria free from hostility.
“We recall the recent scenario during the APC primaries where President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, endorsed Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, as Presidential Candidate, but President – elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu eventually emerged the winner,” he said.
A variety of newly elected senators from different political parties have also rejected outside interference in the choice of their presiding officers.
The senators-elect emphasized the importance of adhering to the constitutional provisions regarding the election of presiding officers during the induction ceremony held for them by the National Assembly management in partnership with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
Members of the 10th Senate, according to senator-elect Ned Nwoko of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who will represent the Delta North Senatorial District, will reject any attempt by the executive to siphon off funds from the legislature.
“The vast majority of the senators-elect believe that we must be independent,” Nwoko said. Only in that way can we hold the executive accountable.
“The executive is not supposed to steal from the parliament. Some of us were already well-established when we first arrived. We are not weaklings, then. We have a strong sense of independence.
Any attempt to impose presiding officers on the 10th National Assembly would fail, according to senator-elect AbdulRaham Kawu-Sumaila, a former minority leader of the House of Representatives who is currently representing Kano South on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
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“We should adhere to the constitution when discussing the senate presidency.
The National Assembly’s members are free to choose their own presiding officers without regard to party affiliation, religion, or race thanks to a clear and express provision in the constitution.
