Crisis is brewing among the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the National Assembly as the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, has carpeted Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas over the announcement of principal officers for the 10th Assembly on Tuesday.
Adamu, unimpressed by the development, said the action of Akpabio and Abbas was “hasty and a break from the norm of the party”.
According to him, the party is yet to formally resolve the issue of principal officers and communicate its stands to the leadership of the 10th Assembly.
“Until then, the news of any announcement is just a rumour,” Persecondnews quotes Adamu as saying.
Persecondnews earlier reported that at the first plenary of Senate on Tuesday after two weeks recess, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had unveiled Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele as the Majority Leader, Sen. Dave Umahi, the Deputy Majority Leader while Sen. Ali Ndume was named Chief Whip and his counterpart from Offa, Kwara State, Sen.Lola Asiru emerged Deputy Chief Whip.
However, while addressing the Progressives Governors Forum at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Adamu said the party had not given the nod or communicated to the leadership of the Assembly principal officers.
He said: “You will get an update of the national election in the National Assembly sharing of powers, particularly the leadership of the chambers — the election of the principal officers of the Senate by the Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
“The election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives have been determined and announced and their responsibilities.
“The remaining offices to be determined by the two chambers is yet to be done. I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his deputy. The following day which was Sunday, I received the visit by the Speaker and the 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 by the president of the Senate, deputy Senate president, Speaker or deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat.
“The caucus has been reconstituted according to the constitution of APC. And we will be discussing that with you as governors. You know your states more than we know it. Even if we come from the same state, the leadership is in you as governors.
“We will hear your advice and then see how we can ensure that we comply with the provisions of the constitution of the party.
“We hope that we will be receiving some reports from the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) chairman, or his representative, to get to know about your feelings and what is going on, 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 and by the grace of God permitting, we will have interactions.”
Adamu also stressed:“Along with the caucus, the National Advisory Council will give you the list that has been prepared and make sure that every state is represented. And we will give you the knowledge of it and advice.
“You will also be given the benefits of All the detailed accounts from April 2022 to April 2023. The PCC account has been audited and it has been submitted to the INEC by the party.”
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