Senate Presidency: Allow incoming senators to exercise their constitutional rights – Group

According to the Amalgamated All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups, the race for President of the Tenth Senate is a constitutional matter, and senators-elect must be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights to vote for leaders of their choice.

Dr Kailani Muhammad, the group’s Director-General, stated this on Wednesday at a news conference in Abuja on the issues surrounding the election of the 10th Senate President.

Muhammad, who is also the National Chairman of the Tinubu/Shettima Network (TSN), described the endorsement of Sen. Godswill Akpabio as the APC’s preferred candidate for the Senate presidency as rumours.

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“The rumors of endorsement are a total distraction from the tenets of democracy and must be rejected by all and sundry.” We must allow the senators-elect to exercise their free will.

“Senators-elect must be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights to vote for aspirants of their choice in the Senate Chambers,” he said.

Following a meeting of the NWC on Monday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the APC leadership reached a decision on the two key positions in the National Assembly.

Following the meeting, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stated that the NWC reached a compromise on the zoning arrangement for the 10th National Assembly.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee met today, Monday, May 8, 2023, to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the president-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders, and stakeholders on zoning arrangements for 10th National Assembly leadership positions,” Morka said.

“The NWC took note with respect of the outcome of the meetings held between the president-elect and the NWC leadership.” The NWC called for more and better consultation with relevant stakeholders in order to ensure the support of National Assembly leadership aspirants and party members across the country.

“The NWC was informed of the following zoning arrangement: Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) is the Senate President for the South-South; Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano) is the Deputy Senate President for the North-West; Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna) is the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the North-West; and Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia) is the Deputy Speaker for the South-East.

“We urge our party leaders, members, and all Nigerians to continue to work for our country’s peace and progress during and beyond the current period of leadership transition.”

Muhammad recalled that the APC leadership took a stand on the issue of zoning the 10th Senate presidency to the South-South about two days ago.

“Sen. Godswill Akpabio used this to claim that the party has chosen him as its preferred candidate for the prestigious position.” To set the record straight, there is currently no such thing as zoning in the APC.

“To allay Nigerians’ and indeed aspirants’ fears, our great party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Snooker, came out on Channels Television to debunk the statement, likening it to a damaging rumour.”

“Felix categorically stated that the party and aspirants are still talking with other stakeholders and negotiating to see how the issue can be resolved amicably so that the country can move forward.”

“Felix categorically stated that the party is working toward a peaceful resolution of the issue, in order to ensure a developed Nigeria free of rancor.”

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“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 as the winner,” he said.

A cross-section of senators-elect from various political parties have also rejected outside influence in their presiding officers’ election.

The senators-elect insisted on following the constitutional provisions on the emergence of presiding officers during the induction program organized for them by the National Assembly management in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

Senator-elect Ned Nwoko, who was elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform to represent Delta North Senatorial District, said members of the 10th Senate would reject any attempt by the executive to pocket the legislature.

“The overwhelming majority of the senators-elect believe that we must be independent,” Nwoko said. That is the only way to hold the executive accountable.

“The legislature is not meant to be a tool for the executive. Some of us were already well-established before we came here. As a result, we are not cowards. We are very self-sufficient.”

Senator-elect AbdulRaham Kawu-Sumaila, a former minority leader in the House of Representatives who now represents Kano South on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has stated that any attempt to impose presiding officers on the 10th National Assembly will fail.

“When it comes to the Senate presidency, we should stick to the constitution.”

“The constitution contains a clear and express provision that allows members of the National Assembly to choose their presiding officers among themselves, regardless of party affiliation, religious or ethnic considerations.”