By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye
Abuja – President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday met with the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APAC), Abdullahi Adamu and the Party Secretary, Dr Iyiola Omisore, at the State House, Abuja.
The duo arrived at the Aso Rock Villa a few minutes before 5pm, and were ushered into the President’s office shortly afterwards.
The meeting follows after the party distanced itself from the principal officers of the 10th National Assembly announced on Tuesday by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Akpabio had announced Opeyemi Bamidele, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Ekiti Central, as Senate Leader for the 10th National Assembly. He had also announced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator for Plateau North Senatorial District, Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon, as Minority Leader.
Other principal officers of the senate proclaimed by Akpabio included Senator Dave Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South), Deputy Majority Leader; Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), Chief Whip; and Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), Deputy Whip.
The speaker Abbas had announced Julius Ihonvbere, lawmaker representing Owan east/Owan west of Edo as the majority leader; and Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, legislator representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi, as the deputy majority leader.
The speaker had also named Bello Usman Kumo, representing Akko federal constituency of Gombe as the chief whip; and Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo north federal constituency in Ogun, as the deputy chief whip.
For the minority leadership, Abbas announced Kingsley Chinda, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Rivers as the minority leader; while Ali Madaki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) was named as the deputy minority leader.
Ali Isa of PDP was named minority whip; while George Ebizimawo of Labour Party was announced as deputy minority whip.
Abbas had said all the members of the APC in the house endorsed the selection of the principal officers from the governing party.
But at a meeting with the Progressives Governors’ Forum led by Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday, Adamu had said “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, the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices.
“And until we formally resolve and communicate with them (NASS leadership) in writing which is the norm and practice (it is not our intention to break away from traditions), whatever announcement is done either by the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker is not from this secretariat.”
(The Sun)
