LawmakerS are getting set to elect leaders of the Ninth National Assembly. But the battle for Senate President and House Speaker remained open at the weekend.
President Buhari is expected to issue the proclamation for the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly on June 11, according to sources.
The two frontline contenders for Senate president, Senators Ahmed Lawan and Mohammed Ali Ndume, have increased the tempo of their campaigns to gain the confidence of their colleagues.
A source in Lawan’s camp told our reporter yesterday that efforts of the Lawan Campaign Organisation to convince more senators and senators-elect to key into the Lawan for Senate president project was yielding “tremendous results”.
He cited the open declaration of support for Lawan by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator.
More PDP senators, including a former governor from Abia State, he said, are warming up to support Lawan this week.
Ndume is also said to be “moving steadily” to get more senators onto his side.
A source close to the Borno South senator confirmed that Ndume met with Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje last week.
Although the source declined to disclose the outcome of the meeting, he described it as “strategic” and “not unconnected with Ndume’s move to gain the support of more senators”.
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Senator Goje was rumoured to be in the race for Senate Presidency, but the Gombe Central senator has not declared his intention to run – less than two weeks to the inauguration of the Ninth Assemly.
It is being rumoured that Goje may have “quietly jettisoned the dream of being Senate President.”
It has been said in some circles that President Muhammadu Buhari should show no interest in who leads the National Assembly. To the Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity, Senator Abu Ibrahim, “it is unfair to say that”.
Ibrahim said that it is in the interest of President Buhari to have a Senate president he could work with harmoniously although he may not openly campaign for the person.
He said that the President is not barred from making preference especially when the National needed competent leadership.
The Katsina South senator also said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) must come in to zone positions, which it had done.
He added: “The issue of imposition is misunderstood. If someone is recommended, he must be elected by the senators on the floor. The only thing is that people have to subject themselves to the principles of their parties.
“Anybody conniving with PDP should be expelled. The party has done everything for you, so you should be expelled.”
Also yesterday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) counselled National Assembly members-elect on who to elect as Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker.
The group said that the National Assembly members should consider human and leadership qualities in electing principal officers for the Ninth National Assembly.
ACF National Publicity Secretary Malam Muhammad Ibrahim Biu told reporters in Kaduna yesterday that picking quality leaders would ensure a smooth but not subservient relationship between the legislature and the executive.
He said: “The election of the Ninth National Assembly principal officers is the exclusive rights and prerogative of Senators and members-elect of the National Assembly.
“However, the political parties that provided the platform for them to be elected also have a role in choosing those to superintendent over the affairs of the National Assembly for the purpose of ensuring good coordination with the executive that are needed for delivering on the promise of democracy.
“ACF therefore urges Senators and members-elect that in exercising their rights to elect officers of their choice, certain attributes like legislative capacity and experience, amiability, track record of selfless service, integrity, compassion of the candidates and above all loyalty to their political parties, which manifestos are used for securing the electoral mandate needed for implementation, should guide them in making the best choice.
“More so that democracy is a majority rule in which the political party with the electoral mandate is held accountable and the minority party is expected to be a viable alternative platform for the electorates, considering that democracy without a viable opposition is spurious.
“It should however be noted that multiparty democracy impels progress through change that comes with robust debates on issues of real concern to ordinary citizens.”
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