The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu has disowned the new leadership of the National Assembly announced on Tuesday by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Adamu, who labelled the report as a ‘rumour’ at a crucial meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) and APC governors at the party secretariat, said the party has not officially stated the presiding officers.
At plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio and Abbas announced the remaining principal officers of their respective chambers.
In the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) emerged the 10th Senate Majority Leader. He will be assisted by Senator David Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South) as Deputy Majority Leader, while Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) is the Chief Whip, and Senator Lola Ashiru (APC Kwara South) is the Deputy Whip.
Akpabio said to his fellow Senators: “The All Progressives Congress caucus of the Senate after consultations, has emerged with their leadership which will be the fulcrum of commencing other businesses of the chamber”.
But the APC national chairman said: “I am just hearing as 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. 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 is done either 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. 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”.
Continuing, Adamu said that the party would make an official announcement when the decision on the sharing formula of the principal offices has been determined.
The two-term governor of Nasarawa State also used the opportunity to update the governors on the audit of the party’s account in the last year, which the NWC hopes to submit in seven days at the meeting of the National Executive Committee.
He said: “You will get an update on the National Election in 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 and their responsibilities.
“The remaining offices to be determined by the two chambers is yet to be done. I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his deputy.
“Along with the caucus, the National Advisory Council will give you the list that has been prepared and make sure that every state is represented. And we will give you the knowledge of it and advice. You will also be given the benefits of all the detailed accounts from April 2022 to April 2023. The PCC account has been audited and it has been submitted to the INEC by the party. We will hear your advice and then see how we can ensure that we comply with the provisions of the constitution of the party”.
The minority parties in the Senate also had their leaders named by Akpabio. Senator Mwadkwon Davou (PDP, Plateau North) is the Senate Minority Leader, while Senator Kamorudeen Olarere (PDP, Osun West) is the Deputy Minority Leader.
Senator Darlington Nwokeocha (Labour Party, Abia Central) is the Senate Minority Whip and Senator Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) is the Deputy Minority Whip.
In the House of Representatives, Abbas announced Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Owan federal constituency, Edo State) as Majority Leader, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims (APC, Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro federal constituency, Kogi State) as Deputy Majority Leader; Hon. Usman Bello Kumo (APC, Akko federal constituency of Gombe State) as Chief Whip, and Hon. Adewumi Onanuga (APC, Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North federal constituency of Ogun State) as Deputy Majority Whip.
The minority causus produced Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Obio/Akpor federal constituency of Rivers State) as Minority Leader, and Hon. Ali Madaki (NNPP, Dala federal constituency of Kano State) as Deputy Minority Leader.
Others are: Hon. Ali Isa (PDP, Balanga/Billiri constituency of Gombe State) as Minority Whip, and Hon. George Ozodinobi (LP, Anaocha-Njikoka-Dunukofia federal constituency of Anambra State) as Deputy Minority Whip.
