Cracks Widen in APC over NWC

•President meets national chair, secretary at state house 

•Mwadkwon: Choices of minority leaders constitutional

Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) widened yesterday as three members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) dissociated the committee from a statement by APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on the election of principal officers of the 10th National Assembly.

But President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, met with Adamu, and the party’s National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, at State House, Abuja.

In a related development, opposition senators from the six minority parties in the upper chamber, yesterday, maintained that the emergence of their principal officers was in line with relevant provisions of the country’s constitution and the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio had on Tuesday announced Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as Majority Leader, Dave Umahi (Ebonyi South) as Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) as Chief Whip, and Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South) as Deputy Whip.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, equally, named Hon. Julius Ihonvbere as Majority Leader; while Hone Abdullahi Halims was announced as Deputy Majority Leader; Hon. Bello Kumo, Chief Whip; and Adewunmi Onanuga, Deputy Chief Whip.

But speaking on Tuesday during a meeting between NWC and APC governors, Adamu said the party’s NWC had no hand in the emergence of the principal officers.

He stated, “The election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has been determined and announced, and their responsibilities. The remaining offices will be determined by the two chambers.

“I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his Deputy.  The following Sunday, I received the speaker and his deputy speaker coming to me for Sallah’s homage.

“But, I am just hearing 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.”

However, three NWC members, who spoke to some journalists on the condition of anonymity yesterday in Abuja, expressed worry that it would appear that the national chairman had made up his mind not to work harmoniously with President Bola Tinubu.

The NWC members pointed out that during the meeting, many APC governors, who spoke on the issue, cautioned the chairman and urged him to reach out to the leadership of the National Assembly and resolve the matter amicably.

The NWC member stated, “It was unanimously believed at the meeting that the emergence of leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly is with the blessing of the president.”

Another NWC member added, “It would appear that the national chairman has made up his mind not to work harmoniously with President Asiwaju, as he repeatedly keeps disputing decisions he has made towards constituting his government.”

The NWC members distanced themselves and the NWC from such actions that clearly undermined the smooth take off of the APC federal government under Tinubu and called on the national chairman to desist from such, too.

Tinubu Meets Adamu, Omisore at State House

President Bola Tinubu met with the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the party’s national secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, at State House, Abuja.

The meeting might not be unconnected with developments within the ruling party, especially the forthcoming national caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the party. The meeting came a day after the National Assembly selected its remaining principal officers, a development kicked against by the leadership of the APC.

‘Choice of Minority Officers Constitutional’

Opposition senators from the six minority parties, yesterday, maintained that the emergence of their principal officers was in line with relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Standing Rules of the Senate.

The minority lawmakers insisted that the officers for the positions were proposed for appointment and other members confirmed them.

Minority Leader of the Senate, Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North), clarified this while briefing journalists after a meeting with his members in the six opposition parties.

Mwadkwon described the 10th Senate as unique in several ways, adding that it is the most diverse senate in Nigeria’s history. The upper chamber is composed of senators from seven political parties, including APC, which has 59 senators, and the opposition parties of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Young Progressives Party (YPP), which produced 50 members of the senate.

The text of the briefing was titled, “Building a virile and constructive opposition caucus in the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

Mwadkwon stated, “In terms of rules of procedure for the nomination of Minority Leadership of the Senate, Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) empowers the senate to make rules to regulate its procedures.

“Premised on the constitutional mandate, and by the authority of the Nigerian senate, the senate Standing Orders 2022 (As amended) issued as the rule book to guide the conduct of legislative businesses, including the appointment of principal officers by the senate.

“Consequently, the senate Standing Orders (2022) in Chapter Six (6), pages 21 to 22, Senate Rules Nos 27, 28, 29, and 30 provided for the Minority Leadership positions, including the Minority Leader, Minority Whip, Deputy Minority Leader, and Deputy Minority Whip ‘Who shall be senators, nominated from the minority parties in the senate.’

“The critical emphasis here is that the officers must be (1) Serving Senators of the Federal of Nigeria, who are (2) Members of the Minorities Parties in the Senate and the word nominate in the Oxford language dictionary means to “Propose”.

“When a proposal is made, it is usually to an authority that has the confirming powers, in this case, the President of the Senate. Accordingly, the President of the Senate received the proposal, announced it, and publicly gavelled the minority leadership nominees into confirmation in line with the Senate Standing Orders.”