Despite the zoning plan put in place by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), several candidates vying for key posts in the 10th NASS leadership of the assembly have refused to be placated with less than a week until its inauguration.
According to information obtained by news organizations, President Bola Tinubu will meet with senators and House members once more today to discuss the problems that the power-sharing agreement is facing.
The APC leadership zoned the positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President to Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau in May. Tajudeen Abbas, the member-elect from Kaduna, was chosen as Speaker, and Benjamin Kalu, the member-elect from the South East, won the position of Deputy Speaker.
10th NASS: Yari, Izunaso, Orji Kalu To Form Alliance Against Akpabio
However, candidates for the job of Senate President such Senators Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West), Osita Izunaso (Imo West), and Orji Kalu (Abia North) have claimed that they would not resign in favor of the party’s consensus choice.
The G-7, a group made up of seven of the disgruntled hopefuls, have persisted in fighting the party’s zoning system.
A source told The Punch that the President has summoned today’s meeting because he is concerned about the persistent candidates.
According to the insider, the gathering would nonetheless make a plea for them to put their aspirations on hold and respect the party’s authority over the consensus candidates.
10th NASS: Tinubu Meets Izunaso Behind Closed Doors Over Senate Presidency
“It is to tell them to toe the party line in the choice of leadership of the NASS. You already know the choice of a party for both Senate and Reps,” the source said.
Confirming the agenda of the meeting, the Director of Publicity for the APC, Bala Ibrahim said “If you look at the leadership style Asiwaju is trying to bring in, you will discover he wants a government that will have the take of everyone. He has been meeting with virtually everyone that has a stake in the project Nigeria. He has met with different sectors and strata of the society since he came into power.’’
The big contenders’ camps, including those of Kalu, Yari, and Izunaso, have meantime reaffirmed their commitment to the contest.
Senator Orji Kalu’s chief press secretary, Emeka Nwala, told The Punch on Wednesday that his principle is still very much in the race and isn’t quitting for anyone.
10th NASS: 67 Senators-elect Are Backing Yari For Senate President – Ningi
As a devoted party member, Nwala revealed that his principal would attend today’s meeting with the President. He also stated that there were still ongoing discussions over the consensus candidate within the Yari camp, but that at the latest by Sunday, the process will be through.
He said “Senator Orji Kalu is in the race and is not stepping down for Senator Akpabio. His position has not changed on that.
“We have a group and we are working with Senator Yari. By the weekend, we will agree on the consensus candidate. We are still in talks. Every aspirant aside from those handpicked is all meeting and in talks.”
Similar to this, a source close to Izunaso claimed that while he is still actively contesting, he is unable to foresee what position he will take following today’s meeting with the President.
Senate Presidency: Akpabio, Yari Camps Lay Claim To Majority Support
Also, a Special adviser to Isunazo, Kehinde Olaosebikan, “Senator Izunaso is not stepping down on his decision to be the Senate President, and by the grace of God he will be the next. He is in talks with Senator Yari but he isn’t considering the deputy senate president position. He is consulting as a group and the senators individually. Senator Izunaso is the next Senate President.”
Speaking from the Yari camp, the Deputy Director General of Yari’s campaign team, Abdul Ningi submitted that “I’m not a member of the APC, I don’t know how the working committee of the APC works, but over 20 years we have seen consistent friction where people are imposed on the National Assembly beginning with (former senate presidents Evans) Enwerem and Chuba (Okadigbo).
“Allow the senators, in my opinion, to choose whoever they want. The PDP had also made similar mistakes and I thought the APC should not have followed suit. Just as the party chose its chairman, allow the senators to also choose their own leader.”
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