Two main contenders for the position of the Senate president emerged from the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday, May 23.

After a two-day retreat for senators-elect there were reports that Bukola Saraki, the senator from Kwara state, received majority support from 35 APC senators, putting him ahead of the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Ahmed Lawan, from Yobe state.

governor, has reportedly stepped down for Lawan in exchange for being chosen as the deputy Senate president.

While the party did not officially address journalists on the matter, in a communique at the end of the retreat two groups, “Like Mind Senators” and “Senate Unity Forum” individually addressed the reporters and announced their support for the two
aspirants.

The ‘Like Mind Senators’ who said they are 35 in number out of the 59 APC senators endorsed Saraki.

The other 24 in the Senate Unity Forum expressed support for Lawan who is said to be supported by the APC national leader and former governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu.

Dino Melaye, who talked to the journalists on behalf of the ‘Like Mind Senators’ showed to the media a document he said contained the signatures of 35 senators who have decided to endorse Saraki.

His address came briefly after the ‘Senate Unity Forum’ also spoke with the press where it declared that Akume had stepped down for Lawan.

Melaye said: “Of the 59 senators of the APC, 35 of us present here today hereby reaffirm our collective commitment and resolution to ensure that the candidature of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the Senate President of the 8th Assembly. ”

The senator-elect added that the deputy to Saraki would come from the north-east, while no name was mentioned for the position as talks continue.

On their own part, the Senate Unity Forum said they have agreed a joint ticket of Lawan and Akume.
“We, the Senate Unity Forum, comprising of senators-elect from various states and zones of Nigeria, have met, held extensive discussions and resolved to support Senator Ahmad Lawan as
Senate President and Senator George Akume as Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate ,” the Group stated.

If the APC cannot reach a consensus candidate, all the aspirants will run for the position of Senate President upon the inauguration of the senate in the first week of June.

A candidate for the position needs a minimum of 55 votes to win – a simple majority of 109 senators.

The APC has 63 senators while the PDP has 46.
Meanwhile, the national leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu and other party leaders have said zoning will not be used in the choice of the leadership of the National Assembly.

It should be noted that earlier the 64 ranking and newly-elected senators in support of Saraki had decided to toss their weight behind the ex-Kwara governor because they want a “Senate president who is not imposed by a godfather.”


Source:-www.naij.com/445071-apc-divides-in-race-for-senate-presidency.html

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