APC chairman distances self from selection of NASS principal officers

All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (left); National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Kashim Shettima; Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others during the commissioning of APC Presidential Campaign Office in Kano State.

The last is yet to be heard of the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the national chairman of the party, Sen Abdullahi Adamu distanced the party from the selection of principal officers of the National Assembly.

Speaking when he, alongside members of the APC national working committee (NWC) met with members of the Governor Hope Uzodinma led progressives governors forum (PGF), he claimed that he was not privy to the processes that led to the selection of the principal officers of both arms of the National Assembly.

The APC chief said the announcement of the principal officers came to him as a surprise considering the fact that both the Senate President Sen Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abass felicitated with him during the recent held Eid el-Kabir Sallah celebration.

According to him: “I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his Deputy. The following which was Sunday, I received the visit by the Speaker and his Deputy Speaker coming to me for Sallah’s homage.

“But 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.

“And 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.”

Adamu disclosed that the membership of the APC caucus has been reconstituted in line with the party constitution just as he elicited the support of the governors in repositioning the party.

“And what is your thinking on what to do to improve the chances of the party and therefore reduce the problems and bickering that we have been hearing from time to time? Then we will have time by the grace of God permitting, we will have interactions. ”

He also promised to render the audited accounts of the party expenditure from April 2022 to April 2023 as well as monies spend by the presidential campaign council (PCC) submitted to the independent national electoral commission (INEC).

In attendance at the parley held at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja were Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dikko Rada ( Katsina), Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos), Hope Uzodimma ( Imo), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Hyacinth Alia ( Benue)
Ogbonna Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Bassey Out (Cross River), Abdurahman Andulrazak (Kwara), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).

The Nasarawa born politician spoke against the backdrop of the emergence of Prof Julius Ihonvbere as House Majority Leader, Usman Bello Kumo House Chief Whip, Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims House Deputy Majority Leader based on the announcement of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The principal officers of the House includes Adewumi Onanuga House Deputy Whip, Kingsley Chinda House Minority Leader, Ali Isa House Minority Whip, Aliyu Sani Madaki House Deputy Minority Leader, and George Ozodinobi House Deputy Minority Whip.

While the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced the Ekiti Central lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, was named the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Dave Umahi ( Ebonyi South) as the Deputy Majority Leader; Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) as Chief Whip; and Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South) as the Deputy Whip.