By Ubong Ukpong & Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday named principal officers to pilot the affairs of the legislative arm in the 10^th assembly.

However the election was without controversy as the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition elements engulfed in squabbles over the choice of the officers.

While the APC National Working Committee said it had no hand in the choice the leaders, the opposition accused the ruling party of meddling then choice of minority officers in the National Assembly.

For instance the PDP’s choice of the immediate past Governor of Sokoto State and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal was thwarted for Simon Davou (Plateau North – PDP), who is believed to have enjoyed the backing of the APC and Nyesom Wike faction.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of meddling with the affairs of the senate minority caucus comprised of PDP members.

This was contained in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, after a meeting of NWC and members of the PDP Caucus in the Senate on Monday.

Ologunagba who stressed the importance of a stable opposition in the National Assembly to defend democracy and the interest of Nigerians said the PDP was aware of moves by the ruling party to influence the nomination of the 10th Assembly’s minority leader.

The party, according to the statement, resolved to collectively nominate the minority leader after due and conclusive consideration while stressing that no decision has been reached yet on the position.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today, Monday, July 3, 2023 met with members of the PDP Caucus in the Senate.

“At the meeting, the importance of a virile and stable opposition in the Senate and indeed the National Assembly was emphasized and the Caucus assured that it will play that important role in the defense of democracy, the interest and wellbeing of Nigerians.

“The meeting condemned in its entirety the alleged subterranean moves by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to meddle with the affairs of the Minority with regards to the emergence of the Minority Leadership which is an exclusive reserve of the Minority Caucus as expressly stipulated by Constitutional provisions and Standing Rules of the Senate.

“The PDP and the Senators continue with consultations on the emergence of the Minority Leadership in the Senate and are resolved to collectively present a unified leadership after due and conclusive considerations. Accordingly, the PDP will continue to provide the necessary leadership in this regard.

“Consequently, the meeting resolved that the PDP NWC communicates to the Senate President, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, on the on-going consultation in the Minority Caucus to the effect that the nominations into the Minority leadership positions in the Senate has not been concluded and that upon conclusion, the nominated list will be formally conveyed to him appropriately for necessary action,” the statement partly read.

Earlier yesterday, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio announced Senator Opeyemi Bamidele from Ekiti State as Senate Leader, Senator Dave Umahi from Ebonyi State as Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume from Borno State as Chief Whip, and Senator Lola Ashiru from Kwara State as Deputy Chief Whip.

Akpabio also announced the names of minority principal officers as Senator Simon Davou (Plateau North – PDP) as Minority Leader, Oyewunmi Olarere (Osun West – PDP), Deputy Minority Leader; Darlington Nwokeocha (Abia Central – LP), Minority Whip; Rufai Hanga (Kano Central – NNPP) as Deputy Minority Whip.

Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas announced Julius Ihonvbere (APC – Edo) as House Majority Leader, Halims Abdullahi (APC – Kogi) as Deputy Majority Leader, Bello Kumo (APC – Gombe) as Chief Whip, and Adewunmi Onanuga (APC – Ogun) as Deputy Chief Whip).

APC Denies Hand in Election Process

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdulahi Adamu, Tuesday, said that the National Working Committee (NWC) has no input in the emergence of the leaders of the National Assembly.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, had announced the ratification of the zoning formula proposed by the President Bola Tinubu at the end of its meeting on May 8, 2023.

Surprisingly, Adamu, who chaired the meeting, made a U-turn yesterday when he disowned the leaders of the National Assembly.

He categorically stated that the APC NWC had no hand in the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Senate President and the emergence of Tajudeen Abbas as the Speaker of the House Representatives, as well as other principal officers.

Adamu stated this yesterday at a meeting with the Progressives Governors’ Forum led by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

“You will get an update on the National Assembly sharing of powers, particularly the leadership of the chambers. The election of the principal officers of the Senate by the Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives have been determined and announced.

“I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his Deputy. The following Sunday, I received the Speaker and his Deputy Speaker coming to me for Sallah’s homage.

“But, I am just hearing a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives. The national headquarters of the party of the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices.

“And until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions. So whatever announcement done either by the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this Secretariat.

“We are going to formally inform you that we are going to have a caucus, and for quite a time, there has been no caucus in place. The caucus has been reconstituted according to the constitution of APC.

“And we will be discussing that with you as governors, you know your states more than we know it. Even if we come from the same state, the leadership is in you as governors,” he said.