APC Jittery As 9th Assembly Leaders Emerge Today
There is palpable tension within the ranks and file of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as lawmakers are set to elect leaders for the 9th assembly today. The party leadership fear a repeat of what happened in 2015 where Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara emerged Senate President and Speaker of the House of representatives respectively, against the wishes of the party.
Senator Ahmed Lawan representing Yobe North Constituency of Yobe State and Femi Gbajabiamila are the anointed candidates for senate president and speaker. The National Working Committee of the party yesterday, ordered all the members-elect to vote only the candidates with the party’s blessing. A development that has angered some lawmakers elected on the platform of the party, some of who have openly opposed the party moves.
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This medium gathered that some of the lawmakers who are not in agreement with the party position and would not publicly oppose the party for fear of being sanctioned are determined to vote against the directive of the party if secret ballot is used for the election.
On the other hand, The People’s Democratic party has adopted Ali Ndume and Umar Bago, both of the APC and directed it’s members to vote for the two as President of the senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.
Ndume and Bago have turned down overtures by their party to step down for Lawan and Gbajabiamila, and insisted on contesting, a development the APC fear might threaten the chances of Senator Lawan and Hon. Gbajabiamila.
If the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) throws its weight behind Ali Ndume with all 45 senators elected on its platform voting for him, Ndume will emerge victorious if he can get 9 aggrieved APC senators-elects to vote for him.
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As the battle intensified, the APC was accused of doling out $10,000 to each of their members-elect to vote the party’s anointed candidates, an allegation the leadership of the party is yet to deny as at the time of going to press.
Till the ballots are counted and winners emerge, the two major parties will continue to fight for who will control the soul of the 9th assembly. As it stands, the All Progressive Congress can’t stomach a repeat of what happened in 2015.
