Cracks within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate Caucus emerged on Tuesday, as the immediate past Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume has faulted the APC’s endorsement of Ahmed Lawan as Senate President in the Ninth Assembly.
Ndume said the right to elect Presiding Officers in the National Assembly rests with senators-elect and not with a political party.
The APC lawmaker who has indicated interest to run for the office of the President of the Senate of the Ninth National Assembly, cited Section 50 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to buttress his argument.
Addressing journalists at a conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the ranking senator from Borno State insisted on contesting for the nation’s Number Three seat.
At a dinner with APC senators-elect in the Presidential Villa on Monday, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole was said to have announced to them that Lawan had been endorsed as Senate President in the incoming National Assembly. President Muhammadu Buhari was said to have given his nod on the matter.
However, Ndume submitted that lawmakers were not consulted before the party National Chairman made the pronouncement.
BusinessDay reports that election into Principal Officers’ position in the National Assembly will be held in June this year upon issuance of a proclamation by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Details soon….
