The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally announced its choices of candidates for Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker.
The party has adopted Delta Central Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, as Deputy Senate President, and Idris Wase, representing Wase Federal Constituency, for Deputy Speaker.
The decision was communicated to newsmen in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of APC held emergency meetings Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 of June 2019.
“The party formally adopts Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for the positions of Deputy Senate President and Hon. Muhammed Idris Wase as Deputy Speaker. This is sequel to wide consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari, party stakeholders, including APC governors,” the statement reads.
With this latest development, Mr Omo-Agege will now run alongside Ahmed Lawan, who is the party’s favoured candidate for Senate President.
Mr Omo-Agege is believed to have led the armed invasion of the National Assembly last year leading to the theft of the Senate mace. Although he denied the allegation, he was found culpable by a National Assembly committee that investigated the incident.
Although the mace was recovered, no one has been prosecuted or convicted for the crime.
At the House of Representatives, the APC Speakership candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila, has been running his campaign with Mr Wase. The relationship is now formalised.
The party urged others to shelve their ambitions and support its position.
“All elected APC members of the Senate and House of Representatives are hereby directed to fully mobilise as a united force behind the party’s choice.
“Members who have earlier signified interests in these positions are urged to support the party’s decisions as loyal and committed members of APC by working with other members to ensure the emergence of the adopted candidates.”
Election of the ninth National Assembly presiding officers will hold on Tuesday.
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