Preparations towards the meeting of the All Progressives Congress leaders and the newly elected National Assembly members to produce the party’s consensus candidates that will be presented as the Senate President and the House of Representatives Speaker during the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly on Tuesday is currently generating tension.

The two contestants for the post of Senate President are Senators Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central) and Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North).

Leaders of the two camps said on Friday that they had more than enough support that would ensure the emergence of their candidates as the party’s choice.

The two camps claimed that they had written the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie -Oyegun, on the suitability of their respective candidates for the post because of their overwhelming support among the APC senators’ fold.

Indications that the situation might get out of control at today’s meeting emerged when both camps, as of Friday evening, were still laying claim to having 35 members each, making 70 whereas there are just 59 APC senators – elect who will be inaugurated on Tuesday.

Senator Kabiru Marafa, (Zamfara Central), who is campaigning for Lawan, told our correspondent that his group had submitted its letter to the party leadership containing 35 names and assured Nigerians that all the members would be physically present at the meeting.

Marafa said, “There are 59 APC senators -elect following the death of Ahmed Zannah (Borno North ) and we have 35 of the number in the Senate Unity Forum. Nobody can manipulate it because the people will appear physically.

“I can assure you that all of us will be there tomorrow (today) to answer our names in support of Senator Lawan. We are 35 and you will see us there live, we are ready for the primary election and we shall surely win.”

But Dino Melaye, (Kogi West) alleged that members of the SUF were not being truthful in their claims, having pledged last week to unfold the list of 40 members in their fold but failed to do so, only for them to start claiming that they have 35 members.

He said, “The Like Minds Senators stand by our figure. We are intact. We held a meeting today (Friday), and all of us still spoke with one voice. We are ready for the primary election that will produce the best candidate anytime.”

Meanwhile, the Like Minds Senators, through a statement jointly signed on Friday by Melaye and Senator Ahmed Sani, challenged Lawan’s group to publicly exhibit the names and signatories they claim that consist their supporters in the senate.

The pro-Saraki group equally urged them to consolidate it further by submitting the names of the senators that had passed a resolution endorsing Lawan as the next Senate President as the senators of the like minds did when they submitted 34 senators endorsing Saraki on May 24.

The group said, “On two occasions, APC has called for due internal democracy through primary elections. On the same two occasions, they (SUF members) have evaded these primary elections to determine the President of the 8th Senate.

“Their latest presentation to our National Chairman, that ranking should be a criterion for the selection of the next Senate President is foolhardy to suggest because if Ahmed Lawan is the most ranking senator, where then was he when George Akume was selected the Minority Leader of the Senate?

http://www.punchng.com/news/senate-presidency-saraki-lawan-camp-ready-for-showdown-today/

I don't like this lawan APC is trying to force as president to the senators. Ranking or No ranking have APC ask if this guy command the respect of majority of Senators?

The best thing for the party is to stay neutral and allow members to elect their own leaders, because even if they succeed now leading the house may be very difficult for them in future.

Lemme see if dis apc party will survive in d next 3 months or dere abt
A party built on deceit won't last long, too many greedy people wif conflicting ideology cum interest
Apc! Scatter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OREMUSSANCTUS:
Lemme see if dis apc party will survive in d next 3 months or dere abt
A party built on deceit won't last long, too many greedy people wif conflicting ideology cum interest
Apc! Scatter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They'll never Fall. . . sai BaBA!

Interesting episode loading ...

Cc lalatisclala ishilove
Dropshot gbawe passingshot beremf gboliwe
Come Nd see hw ur change agents wants to return David mark on a diamond platform

Francizy barcanista redoil severussnape ecotteros

I beg help me congratulate David mark for another 4yrs as NASS Leader

HzRF:
Cc lalatisclala ishilove
Dropshot gbawe passingshot beremx gboliwe
Come Nd see hw ur change agents wants to return David mark on a diamond platform

Francizy barcanista redoil severussnape ecotteros

I beg help me congratulate David mark for another 4yrs as NASS Leader

I don't even like that man called David Mark. He behaves like one Nairaland APC woman from Imo state.

Saraki maybe a thief which I absolve him no blame for; truth is that most of our political class are daylight robbers but he is a better man than Lawan who will be at best a rubber stamp & a Bonaventure Mark 2.0.

Talking about how a 50-60bn cut won't make any difference to the economy, the whole gargantuan and obscene budget is for them to be "effective" lawmakers and that any cut should be across board and not restricted to them only... Maybe the cut should come from the 18k minimum wage...

TANoids should stop rejoicing, this is good for democracy unlike the PDP way of foisting a "unanimous" candidate and woe betide any dissenting voice..

APCs are bunch of clueless thieves who are about to tear and loot the nation treasury dry. Was that how PDP did theirs?

saraki

APC should work on PDP not to field a candidate for the senate presidency.

Once, that is agreed, allow the two (Saraki and Lawan) test their popularity through an election on the floor of the senate. QED.

To the haters and wishers of failure, APC has actually performed better than PDP in this regards. If it were PDP, the president would have anointed a candidate no matter how unpopular he is and forced on the Senate to become a rubber stamp. We saw it over and over in the last sixteen years.

Saraki has some cases hanging around his neck but yet I prefer him to a man I can hardly pick what he says - Lawan.

Btw, none of them is free of corrupt practices.
The advantage we will have with Saraki is that he doesn't take orders from Bourdillion. He may seem proud, but we need people like him who do not need to take orders from some godfathers out there.

Sai Buki

PassingShot:
APC should work on PDP not to field a candidate for the senate presidency.

Once, that is agreed, allow the two (Saraki and Lawan) test their popularity through an election on the floor of the senate. QED.

To the haters and wishers of failure, APC has actually performed better than PDP in this regards. If it were PDP, the president would have anointed a candidate no matter how unpopular he is and forced on the Senate to become a rubber stamp. We saw it over and over in the last sixteen years.

You are somehow intelligent but your hypocrisy oozes ..How is your first statement possible? ..It made me laugh. ..but you're right.

PassingShot:
APC should work on PDP not to field a candidate for the senate presidency.

Once, that is agreed, allow the two (Saraki and Lawan) test their popularity through an election on the floor of the senate. QED.

To the haters and wishers of failure, APC has actually performed better than PDP in this regards. If it were PDP, the president would have anointed a candidate no matter how unpopular he is and forced on the Senate to become a rubber stamp. We saw it over and over in the last sixteen years.

And trying to force lawan on the Senators is what?

francizy:


I don't even like that man called David Mark. He behaves like one Nairaland APC woman from Imo state.

Beremx aka MzJackBaueress comes to mind.