Non-serving senators warn Kalu, Yari: Obey APC zoning for NASS leadership
Ex-senators on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged aspirants for Senate President to support Senator Godswill Akpabio, who has been endorsed by the party.
The ex-senators under the aegis of ‘APC Non-serving Senators Group’, advised the other contenders – Orji Kalu, Osita Izunazo and Abdulaziz Yari – to respect party supremacy.
The ex-Senators, who had served during Second, Third and Fourth republics, reiterated their position on party supremacy during the meeting in Abuja with some elders, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Ambassador Godknows Igali and Archbishop John Praise. Outgoing Senate President Ahmed Lawan highlighted the factors that are likely to shape the election of the presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly.
He told reporters after he and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila met with President Bola Tinubu in Aso Villa, Abuja, that the choice of next principal officers will be guided by the national interest and interest of the National Assembly.
Senator Akpabio, maintained that the president is behind his aspiration President Tinubu and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had zoned the Senate President to the Southsouth and endorsed Akpabio and Senator Barau Jibrin from Kano, Northwest as Deputy Senate President. Senators Kalu, Yari, Osita Izunaso and others had objected to the endorsement and vowed to contest against the Akpabio/Jibrin ticket on inauguration day.
At an enlarged meeting of the APC Non-Serving Senators Group and Stakeholders in Abuja, the Convener, Senator Basheer Lado, called on them not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
He urged them to withdraw their bids in the interest of peace, party cohesion and the smooth takeoff of the Tinubu administration. The elders – Osoba and Yakasai also called on the group to reach out to senators-elect opposing the position of the party. Osoba urged the APC Non-Serving Senators to lobby other aspirants to ensure that zoning is sustained.
Osoba said: “I want to appeal to you on two issues. Let us all organise a serious lobby system by convening a meeting of all aspirants for the position of Senate President in 10th Senate to make them see reason why they should toe the line of the party. Nation
