The All Progressives Congress, which is currently in power, and the National Assembly’s presiding leaders are at odds over who would serve as its chief officers. The Progressive Governors’ Forum has vowed to mediate the dispute.
The action comes just hours after the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, disowned the new appointments made on Tuesday by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Many believe that this was done on purpose to calm the escalating tension within the party.
At the key gathering of the National Working Committee and the governors, Adamu dismissed their selection as a “rumour” and claimed that the party had not formally contacted the presiding officers.
His rebuttal is coming in the wake of reports that Akpabio had named Ekiti Central lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, as the 10th Senate Majority Leader
The Senate President also announced Senator Dave Umahi (Ebonyi South) as Deputy Majority Leader, Ali Ndume (Borno South) as Chief Whip, and Lola Ashiru (Kwara South) as the Deputy Whip.
But the governors believed the action was a result of a communication gap between the party and the party’s high-ranking legislators.
Addressing newsmen after their meeting with the NWC, the PGF Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, promised that the PGF will resolve the conflict with the aid of the APC internal mechanism.
He said, “Don’t let us misquote him. The chairman never said that they (Akpabio and Abbas) are on their own. The National Assembly leadership belongs to our great party and they enjoy our support.
“If there is a communication gap anywhere, we will make it up. We have our internal mechanism for resolving such things. The National Assembly leadership enjoys the support of the Progressives Governors Forum and of our party. We don’t have any problem at all.
“We congratulated ourselves in the way and manner the leadership of the National Assembly election was conducted. We now have a Senate President, his Deputy Senate President, Speaker and his deputy who we are very confident will do well,” he stated.
The Imo governor also debunked the growing report that Adamu has handed the audited account of the APC for scrutiny ahead of the National Caucus meeting slated for July 10.
“In the course of the conversation, the chairman did mention that in keeping with the Electoral Act, they (NWC) are working on having an audited account that will be presented at the national caucus meeting. It was just mentioned. It has not been presented,” he said.
In attendance were Governors Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Uba Sani (Kaduna) and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Nasir Idris (Kebbi).
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