Concerns emerged over the weekend within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that the party might lose its grip on the National Assembly. This comes after subtle threats from aggrieved aspirants for leadership positions in the 10th Assembly to possibly abandon APC.
According to sources, northern and southwestern statesmen, including two former heads of state and traditional rulers, have intervened to ease the tension. They have reportedly spoken with key lawmakers-elect in order to defuse the political discord.
Last week, APC unveiled a zoning formula for electing principal officers of the 10th Assembly. This decision has caused a rift among the contenders and the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC). The formula named Godswill Akpabio (APC Akwa Ibom) and Jibrin Barau (APC Kano) as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively. It also named Tajudeen Abbas (APC Kaduna) and Benjamin Kalu (APC Abia) as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
However, at a meeting between contenders for the Senate presidency and Adamu, Sani Musa, a senator representing Niger East, reminded that party membership is voluntary. This statement has been interpreted by some as an indication that aggrieved contenders are considering all options, including working against APC candidates on the floor of parliament or outright defection.
Despite APC’s narrow lead over opposition lawmakers-elect in both chambers of the National Assembly, opposition lawmakers-elect have vowed to leverage their advantage to position two of their own as Senate-President and Speaker.
Pressure is being mounted on Adamu to convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to review the zoning formula and reach a final verdict. The aim is to resolve the current discord, keep the party’s members, and maintain APC’s majority in both chambers of the National Assembly.
The intervention of statesmen and traditional rulers also entails proposing alternative candidates for Senate President and Speaker as a compromise. The appeal is for the North not to use their higher numerical strength to dominate the Senate leadership.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of APC Support Groups has called for a NEC meeting to stave off a potential backlash from lawmakers-elect. They also demanded that the Senate presidency be ceded to the South-East in the interest of equity and justice.
