Forum of National Assembly Legislative Aides from North West , on Tuesday asked Senators and Members – elect for the 10th National Assembly , vying for leadership positions against the decision of National Working Committee ( NWC) of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) , to back down .
The forum made the call in Abuja at a special press conference within the premises of the National Assembly .
The NWC of APC had in its zoning arrangements for the leadership of 10th National Assembly , picked Senator Godswill Akpabio from South – South , as preferred candidate for Presidency of the Senate and Senator Jibrin Barau from North West for Deputy President of the Senate .
The party in a statement signed to that effect by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka , picked Hon Tajudeen Abbas from North West for the Speakership position of the House of Representatives and Hon Benjamin Kalu from South East for Deputy Speakership position .
The zoning arrangement was however not respected by some other APC federal lawmakers – elect interested in the positions like Abdulaziz Yari from Zamfara West ,vying for Senate President , Sani Musa vying for Deputy Senate President , Muktar Betara , vying for Speakership of the House of Representatives etc ..
But in their support for the choices made by the NWC of APC , the National Assembly Legislative Aides from North West , said the party was in order for picking Senator Jibrin Barau for Deputy President of the Senate and Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas for Speakership of the House of Representatives .
The forum in its statement signed by Zonal Leader, Abdulrazaq Dunkawa and Secretary, Silas Gabriel Garba , said Northwest deserved the two presiding officers’ positions zoned to it , for contributing the highest number of votes to the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections .
The statement reads in part : ” We Legislative Aides from the North West like to place on record that the geo – political zone contributed the highest number of votes to the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections .
” Results from the elections show that North West played crucial role of keeping APC in power by securing the majority of Honourable members and Distinguished Senators in both chambers .
“The Zone no doubt rightly deserves the zoning made by the party as far as leadership of the 10th National Assembly is concerned .
” We therefore call on other contestants to allow for party supremacy to establish discipline , order and legislative democracy to thrive in the 10th National Assembly ” .
Lawan debunks contesting for Senate President seat in 10th National Assembly
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday debunked media report that he has joined the race for Presidency of the 10th Senate.
Lawan in a statement personally signed said that he has never told anyone that about aspiration of contesting for Presidency of the 10th Senate.
Lawan said, “I have read some media reports that I have joined the race for the Presidency of the 10th Senate. Ordinarily I would not have responded to these reports but when lies are not refuted, they have the tendency to create an illusion of truth.
“The truth is that I have never told anyone or held a meeting with anyone that I am running for the Presidency of the 10th Senate. So the public should discountenance the reports.
“The fact remains that I am part of the leadership of our great party, the APC, seeking to find solutions to the numerous issues arising from the contests for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and I will continue to remain focused on that.”
