ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE, defiant National Chairman of Nigeria’s governing All Progressive Congress, APC, could be leading his party to fresh controversy over choices of leadership in the Senate and House Of Representatives of the incoming ninth national assembly. The crisis may stem from APC’s brand of politics of selectiveness — not yielding to liberal democratic principles of negotiations, persuasions and inclusiveness.
Ahead of the party’s choices of who becomes the Senate President, House of Representatives Speaker, appointments in key positions – including chairmen of committees, for the ninth national assembly which will be due for inauguration in June 2019, controversy has begun to brew in the party, and Oshiomhole is talking tough on appointments in both chambers of the national assembly.
On Monday, Ndume wrote the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole to declare his intention to run for Senate President. Same day, President Buhari met the leadership of APC and senators-elect at the Presidential Villa. At the meeting Ahmed Lawan was announced as Senate President of the ninth Senate.
Endorsement of Lawan for Senate President spark off reaction from Ndume. Unhappy Ali Ndume vowed to fight on. Addressing journalists, Tuesday, in Abuja, he described as unconstitutional, the endorsement of Senator Ahmad Lawan as the party’s candidate for Senate President of the ninth national assembly.
He said the choice of Lawan was unpopular decision, unilaterally taken by Adams Oshiomhole. “All my colleagues at the occasion [Monday] were shocked when Adams Oshiomhole unilaterally announced his decision to endorse Lawan as candidate of the party”.
He said: “It is an unpopular decision because I am sure that President Buhari and other leaders of the party are not in support of that action. None of the stakeholders was also consulted.” Ndume said President Buhari and National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, gave him their consent when he consulted them about aspiration for job.
Endorsement of Lawan as Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila for Speaker House of Representatives may spark off crisis of confidence in the ruling party. Ndume said he would consult leaders of the party in Nigeria’s North East geo-political zone – his political zone – and his colleagues who are backing his aspiration, before taking a final position.
