Senate Presidency: APC youths deny endorsing Lawan

The All Progressives Congress Zonal Youth Leaders Forum has dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, as the sole candidate for the Senate presidency position, insisting that the idea of micro-zoning of National Assembly leadership positions is not in the best interest of the party.

Spokesman for the forum,  Terver Aginde, in a statement said the reports claiming endorsement for Lawan by some APC youths in Abuja was not from the body, adding that  the zonal youth leaders were concerned that micro-zoning the Senate presidency and Speakership positions would not only erode the independence of legislature but would alienate genuine party members and senators-elect unjustifiably.

He said, “We are the constitutionally recognised youth leaders of the party and we are members of the National Executive Committee. We are worried about the future of this party.  So, the purported endorsement of a particular candidate by some youths is certainly not from us.

“Our position is clear; we do not want a repeat of the 2015 incident. And again, we maintain that no zone is less important than another.

“We are not against zoning but micro-zoning. We considered it anomalous to make a pronouncement on the Senate presidency and Speakership to the exclusion of other zones.

“We are yet to receive answers to the questions: How did we get to this avoidable crisis point. How did we arrive at the purported decision on micro-zoning; who seconded the motion for such a decisive plot?

“Mr President in his right wisdom has maintained that he is for everyone and the wisdom in that is to give every legitimate party member a sense of belonging. We think that is the route to go.” Punch