•Lawan, Saraki intensify lobby
•Reconciliation tops agenda of meeting
President Muhammadu Buhari has a big task for the
leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
ahead of today’s meeting with the party’s Senators-
elect: ensure that the choice of Senate President creates
no crisis in the rank and file.
Two prominent members of the party – Alhaji Ahmed
Lawan and Dr.Bukola Saraki are locked in a tricky battle
for the position.
Each side claims more support in the Senate than the
other.
Buhari has declared that he will not take sides with any
of the candidates or pick a preference because “they are
two brothers.”
Party sources said last night that reconciliation will top
the agenda at today’s meeting.
Senators Lawan and Saraki are intensifying their
campaign ahead of the election of the president of the
8th Senate.
The Senate is scheduled for inauguration on Tuesday.
A source said the race for the Senate Presidency featured
at the recent meeting between Buhari and APC leaders.
“You know the President met during the week with APC
leaders. Although the meeting was behind closed doors
the issue of Senate Presidency came up,” the source
said.
“At the session, Buhari charged the leaders to get a few
things done in such a way that it will not lead to rancour
between the candidates. He said after all, ‘they are two
brothers.’
The source added: “At the meeting with APC leaders,
Buhari insisted that he will not point at any of the two
candidates and dictate who should be the President of
the Senate.
“But he told them a few things to do to make peace
between Lawan and Saraki.”
It was also gathered last night that the APC leadership in
prioritizing reconciliation at today’s meeting had been
working on the Lawan-Akume and Saraki groups to
attend the heart-to-heart session in Abuja.
One of the two groups has agreed to take part in the
shadow election planned by the party,while the other is
not favourably disposed to it.
Investigation revealed that the party leadership was
uncomfortable with the possible negative effect the
wrangling over Senate Presidency may have on the unity
of the party.
The party’s leadership was said to be touched following
the latest development which has led to governors,
elders and APC chieftains being divided along partisan
lines.
A highly-placed source said: “There is too much tension
in the party on the choice of the next President of the
Senate. The APC leadership will not join the fray instead,
it will broker peace.
“So, as we prepare for the session, reconciliation is top
on the card. We want to appeal to the Lawan-Akume
and Saraki groups to consider the contest as a “family
issue.”
“What you should expect on Saturday (today) is a
trouble-shooting session. We want the 8th Senate to
convene in peace.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “If we are
able to reconcile, we will go to the inaugural session of
the 8th Senate as a united party.”
Another source said: “The party’s reconciliatory
intervention became necessary following the rejection of
shadow primaries by one of the two groups.
“So, we do not want these differences to widen .”

www.thenationonlineng.net/new/senate-presidency-buhari-tasks-apc-leaders-as-party-meets-senators-elect-today/

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

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