Tension is brewing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the senators loyal to one of the contenders of the senate seat, Senator Bukola Saraki, has accused the National Working Committee of the party of bias.
The senators under the name “Like Minds Senators” , have advised the NWC against undue interference in the affairs of the senate.
Speaking through its coordinator, Senator-elect Dino Melaye said: “The NWC is there to offer advice and not to determine those who will contest leadership positions on the floor of the senate. The constitution of Nigeria and the rules of the Senate are clear on how a senate president could emerge”.
A senator who attended the meeting told Daily Independent that the NWC was mandated to present the most eligible candidate for the position within three days, as the party’s consensus candidate.
Some senators have expressed their reservations about the party’s stand expressing disgust at the decision which they affirmed is strange to the rules of the Senate and constitution of the country.
Reports say the APC had plans to announce its preferred candidate between Lawan and Saraki, later today in Abuja.
However, some members of the party have adviced the APC to allow the most popular aspirant to emerge through a due process that would be free, fair, credible and generally acceptable to all the senators.
Meanwhile, there are fears that the imposition of a consensus candidate by the ruling party might rob it of the position. This is because of rumours that opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is scheming to take advantage of the division to present a formidable candidate and win the election.
However, Saraki’s ambition to become the next Senate president of the eight National Assembly has suffered set back after Senators from the Northwest zone denied endorsing him recently.
Speaking through its coordinator, Senator-elect Dino Melaye said: “The NWC is there to offer advice and not to determine those who will contest leadership positions on the floor of the senate. The constitution of Nigeria and the rules of the Senate are clear on how a senate president could emerge”.
A senator who attended the meeting told Daily Independent that the NWC was mandated to present the most eligible candidate for the position within three days, as the party’s consensus candidate.
Some senators have expressed their reservations about the party’s stand expressing disgust at the decision which they affirmed is strange to the rules of the Senate and constitution of the country.
Reports say the APC had plans to announce its preferred candidate between Lawan and Saraki, later today in Abuja.
However, some members of the party have adviced the APC to allow the most popular aspirant to emerge through a due process that would be free, fair, credible and generally acceptable to all the senators.
Meanwhile, there are fears that the imposition of a consensus candidate by the ruling party might rob it of the position. This is because of rumours that opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is scheming to take advantage of the division to present a formidable candidate and win the election.
However, Saraki’s ambition to become the next Senate president of the eight National Assembly has suffered set back after Senators from the Northwest zone denied endorsing him recently.
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