10th NASS Leadership: APC still inconclusive on principle after meeting with Tinubu

…President-elect meets Adamu, Lawan, Omo-Agege, Kalu others

…Be patient, we are still in celebration mood – Adamu to Nigerians

…I’m best among Senate Presidency candidates — Kalu boasts

By Moses Adeniyi

As the discourse over the formation of the 10th National  Assembly leadership gathers cloud of suspense, the decision making organ of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to strike a conclusive point on the consensus for the guiding principle to settle with to determine principal officers of the 10th Assembly.

The stalemate which has bred the ground for heated contest is despite talks by party bigwigs, and meetings scheduled by the National leadership with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Although a number of meetings have been held behind closed doors involving the President-elect, leadership of the ruling Party and stakeholders eyeing key positions in the 10th Assembly, there were no striking indications on the preferred principle to settle for, both for the lower and upper chamber of the 10th Assembly.

Since his return from Paris, France, Monday evening, meetings involving National Assembly stakeholders, leadership of the Party and other key stalwarts of the ruling Party have been convened as was projected, albeit without disclosure of a consensus.

A meeting on Wednesday, with the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore; the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; and former Secretary of the dissolved APC Presidential Campaign Council, James Faleke at the Defence House, Abuja, behind closed doors, did not either yield a consensus on the direction of the Party.

Also at the meeting with Tinubu were the APC Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Deputy National Chairman, South, Emma Eneukwu; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Kwara state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Zailani.

…Be patient, we are still in celebration mood – Adamu to Nigerians

Although the Party stalwarts declined speaking to journalists, Adamu in his hint said, “Nigerians should be patient with the party,” mentioning the Party leadership is still in what he described as “celebration mood.”

“We should wait. What is good for the country is what is good for us as a party. We are only celebrating the victory of our party now,” he said.

Although it was gathered a meeting was scheduled for Wednesday night, as at the time of filing this report, there were yet still no clear indications of the direction of the Party on the principle to abide by, for the determination of the leadership of the 10 National Assembly.

The Party’s inconclusive posture on the principle to be adopted has left the floor with heated contest as those eyeing key positions, particularly of the President of the Senate and the Speaker seat of the House of Representatives have been brandishing arguments to back their interest, particularly using zoning parameters.

For the Senate President seat, arguments around zoning have been much more controversial, particularly leaning towards the South-south, Southwest, and Northwest.

Since his arrival from France on Monday, Tinubu has been receiving key lawmakers among whom are those on the list of those eyeing key positions in  the 10th National Assembly.

…I’m best among Senate Presidency candidates – Kalu boasts 

On Wednesday, Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who is also eyeing the seat of the President of the Senate met with the President-elect, in Abuja in a closed-door meeting.

Speaking after the meeting which lasted for about 30 minutes, Kalu disclosed that the purpose of his visit was to officially welcome the President-elect on his return from a vacation.

On his bid for the senate presidency, he boasted he is the best amongst the candidates jostling for the position to work with Tinubu as Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

“I told Nigerians that Tinubu is not sick and that he would return soon and a few days after I made that comment, today you can see for yourself that he is here.

“So, this shows that our President-elect is fit and fully ready for the job of leading Nigerians just like I said. I just came to congratulate and officially welcome him back to the country and we are ready to support him for the task ahead.

“I am the best among the candidates. I have the capacity to unite Nigeria and I am the best to work with our President-elect for the best interest of Nigeria. Nigerians need to feel the impact of our party. I have the integrity, honesty and experience to lead the Senate,” he boasted.

Recall that among those who visited the President-elect on Tuesday were lawmakers jostling for leadership position in the 10th National Assembly.

Key among them was Senator Godwills Akpabio who boasted that his records will earn him the Senate Presidency, he is bidding for.