Critics drawn from a coalition of civil society organisations under the auspices of Partners for Legislative Agenda for Nigeria (PLAN) has taken the All Progressives Congress to cleaners for insisting on Senator Ahmed Lawan as President of the Senate in the yet to be inaugurated ninth National Assembly.

The group, in its argument, noted that handpicking the Senate President in a legislative chamber having divergent views was undemocratic as it is undesirable.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has put its foot down regarding the position of Senate President of the ninth National Assembly, maintaining that the choice of Senator Ahmed Lawan was already a foregone conclusion.


Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, had posited that while the party recognised the right of individual senators like former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, to run for the Senate Presidency, such right had been signed off to the party who exercised it in the interest of those who voted for it.

Although the development does not go down well with some elected members of the upper legislative chambers, Chairman of PLAN, Lord Ibiang, in Abuja, on Thursday, said the action might lead to the ugly antecedents that led to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President in 2015.


He said that the country suffered in terms of quality laws owing to the endless friction between the executive and legislative for the better part of Buhari’s first term.

He said, “We sincerely commend the APC for looking in the direction of the Northeast. It is the right thing to do. But we equally disagree and warn against any attempt to impose a candidate.

“Yes, while it is imperative for a ruling political party to introduce a semblance of order and political stability in the leadership choice, historical antecedent has shown that imposition through influence peddling and invoking the name of the President had led to instability in leadership succession in the National Assembly in the past.

“There are a number of experienced, exposed, versatile, cosmopolitan and broad-minded ranking Senators from the Northeast. The search for a Senate President must be broadened to get for Nigeria, the very best. The idea of a handpicked Senate President is as undemocratic as it is undesirable.

“The Senate must rise to the occasion. It is incumbent on it, on behalf of Nigerians who elected them, to choose a Senate President that can build bipartisan and nationalistic bridges which would contribute in stabilising the polity and bridging the unity gap.”

“Therefore, the 9th Senate should go ahead and elect for itself, a Senate President that will work for it and for Nigerians. This position shall be communicated to all appropriate quarters, especially the senators-elect, President Muhammadu Buhari and all major political parties.”


Ibiang said that a harmonious executive-legislative relationship which would help the country achieve sound and effective governance is the desire of many Nigerians at this auspicious time.

He said, “The history of leadership of the National Assembly need to be placed in its proper perspective to reduce tension and help the leadership selection process in the 9th National Assembly. That is about setting the records straight!

“Our major intention is to create a harmonious executive-legislative relationship that will help the country achieve sound and effective governance.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/9th-nass-apc-may-regret-imposing-lawan.html

APC is a death Party!!!

APC should make mistakes.. we love it!

I don't even get why this 9th Assembly Leadership is bringing controversy. I personally advice NASS to vote a person who will be their Senate leader. Not some party affiliation .

Sg! thole country

The NASS consists of lawmakers elected to represent the people on the platform of a party not the other way round.

APC never learn from the dangers of imposition. I won't be surprised that after all this Lawan noise, some aggrieved members with the backing of the opposition produces the Senate leader.

The legislature is an independent body full of matured people and the APC and it's committee should respect that

By the time they know what hit them, PDP would be running their affairs. Goje will emerge as Senate president, Mark my words.

Q

They should maintain the status quo.
NW: President
SW: V. President
NC: Senate President
SE: D. S. President...

Dino is the right man for the job

SaiDino

Mrakeli:
Critics drawn from a coalition of civil society organisations under the auspices of Partners for Legislative Agenda for Nigeria (PLAN) has taken the All Progressives Congress to cleaners for insisting on Senator Ahmed Lawan as President of the Senate in the yet to be inaugurated ninth National Assembly.

The group, in its argument, noted that handpicking the Senate President in a legislative chamber having divergent views was undemocratic as it is undesirable.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has put its foot down regarding the position of Senate President of the ninth National Assembly, maintaining that the choice of Senator Ahmed Lawan was already a foregone conclusion.


Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, had posited that while the party recognised the right of individual senators like former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, to run for the Senate Presidency, such right had been signed off to the party who exercised it in the interest of those who voted for it.

Although the development does not go down well with some elected members of the upper legislative chambers, Chairman of PLAN, Lord Ibiang, in Abuja, on Thursday, said the action might lead to the ugly antecedents that led to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President in 2015.


He said that the country suffered in terms of quality laws owing to the endless friction between the executive and legislative for the better part of Buhari’s first term.

He said, “We sincerely commend the APC for looking in the direction of the Northeast. It is the right thing to do. But we equally disagree and warn against any attempt to impose a candidate.

“Yes, while it is imperative for a ruling political party to introduce a semblance of order and political stability in the leadership choice, historical antecedent has shown that imposition through influence peddling and invoking the name of the President had led to instability in leadership succession in the National Assembly in the past.

“There are a number of experienced, exposed, versatile, cosmopolitan and broad-minded ranking Senators from the Northeast. The search for a Senate President must be broadened to get for Nigeria, the very best. The idea of a handpicked Senate President is as undemocratic as it is undesirable.

“The Senate must rise to the occasion. It is incumbent on it, on behalf of Nigerians who elected them, to choose a Senate President that can build bipartisan and nationalistic bridges which would contribute in stabilising the polity and bridging the unity gap.”

“Therefore, the 9th Senate should go ahead and elect for itself, a Senate President that will work for it and for Nigerians. This position shall be communicated to all appropriate quarters, especially the senators-elect, President Muhammadu Buhari and all major political parties.”


Ibiang said that a harmonious executive-legislative relationship which would help the country achieve sound and effective governance is the desire of many Nigerians at this auspicious time.

He said, “The history of leadership of the National Assembly need to be placed in its proper perspective to reduce tension and help the leadership selection process in the 9th National Assembly. That is about setting the records straight!

“Our major intention is to create a harmonious executive-legislative relationship that will help the country achieve sound and effective governance.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/9th-nass-apc-may-regret-imposing-lawan.html

Those who are against APC's position are the exact people that want APC to fail.

The idea is that APC should well ahead of time put their heads together for 1person unlike last time that consensus wasn't there so Saraki exploited the situation.

Now, there is a consensus but no, they dont want it. Who if i may ask doesnt want a consensus, only a person who wants APC to fail.

I dont blame the PDP, or its supporters, i blame Buhari. How many Senate Presidents did PDP or Obj change between 1999-2007? Where were these people when PDP did all that. The senate president was in the pocket of the PDP.

Buhari has tried for democracy but no PDP wont have it. PDP is hell bent on making sure Buhari doesnot give Nigerians good leadership so that their hope of looting will be kept alive.

Who does it benefit if APC has no consensus, lets call a spade a spade.

If Ali Ndume or any disgruntled APC senator does anything contrary to the consensus, its just greed and another attempt to cause 4 years of war between the executive and legislative. This only benefits the rejected PDP.

Regret hell!

Executive interference in the Legislature is undemocratic, Lawan could lose out and the Saraki factor could play out again.
Already Ndume and Goje are holding their ground, they know that Buhari is not going for a third term to threaten them

- Some senators-elect have expressed displeasure over the recommendation of Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position of Senate president - The senators cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against allowing the National Assembly to be taken by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's foot-soldiers - The senators-elect also frowned at the recommendation of Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila for speaker of the House of Representatives Some senators-elect have cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against allowing the National Assembly to be taken over by the foot-soldiers of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. According to Leadership, the senators said that the recommendation by the APC that Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate presidency was a plot to surrender the parliament to Tinubu. Legit.ng gathers that the senators said the touting of Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila as the speaker of the House of Representatives was in the same direction. READ ALSO: NNPC recruitment: NANS wants age limit removed, threatens mass protest One of the senators said: “Lawan and Gbajabiamila are the candidates of Tinubu. If they have their way, it means Tinubu has extended his hold to the parliament. Already, he has the vice president and the APC national chairman. What else is left for others?” He continued: “People are just keeping quiet because of their respect for Buhari who believes that it’s payback time for Tinubu. It shouldn’t be so because other people contributed and they should be rewarded, accordingly.” Another lawmaker from the north said: “He deliberately brought his colloquium to Abuja as against Lagos, his usual venue, because he wants to conquer the country. He feels that it’s time for him to do so. “He has pocketed Lagos and he is leaving no stone unturned to pocket the country. Some of us are of the view that neutral candidates should be considered for the National Assembly leadership and not those whose allegiance will be to Tinubu and not the country."

Body bag or money bag will soon silence them.

amaniro:
I don't even get why this 9th Assembly Leadership is bringing controversy. I personally advice NASS to vote a person who will be their Senate leader. Not some party affiliation .

In the UK, majority in the parliament forms a government from the PM to Speaker. No where in the world does the minority fight for such control especially exploiting personal greed of the majority members.

If PDP had no interest in the leadership but have interest in the policies, i bet you, this issue will not be outside the senate chambers. They would just sit and choose from who ever are the contestants in APC. But no, the APC members would do anything to lead so the sell the party to PDP. From the way PDP is going, they made themselves underdogs and would remain so. The government at the center will elude them only trying yo get back in using divisive and insincere methods.

Thank God voting pattern has changed, Bauchi a classic case, PDP governor APC assembly. People know to choose what they want now.

Another 4 wasted years loading

adanny01:


Those who are against APC's position are the exact people that want APC to fail.

The idea is that APC should well ahead of time put their heads together for 1person unlike last time that consensus wasn't there so Saraki exploited the situation.

Now, there is a consensus but no, they dont want it. Who if i may ask doesnt want a consensus, only a person who wants APC to fail.

I dont blame the PDP, or its supporters, i blame Buhari. How many Senate Presidents did PDP or Obj change between 1999-2007? Where were these people when PDP did all that. The senate president was in the pocket of the PDP.

Buhari has tried for democracy but no PDP wont have it. PDP is hell bent on making sure Buhari doesnot give Nigerians good leadership so that their hope of looting will be kept alive.

Who does it benefit if APC has no consensus, lets call a spade a spade.

If Ali Ndume or any disgruntled APC senator does anything contrary to the consensus, its just greed and another attempt to cause 4 years of war between the executive and legislative. This only benefits the rejected PDP.

your reasons are lame. its funny that same people who keep telling us that PDP failed Nigerians are always referring to PDP when they want to do same to some things.

first, the legislative arm is not an arm of any political party. the senate rules is that the senators should elect whoever they want as their leaders. the best the party that has the majority is to zone is to each position to geopolitical areas and anybody from that zone should be free to contest. but coming to tell them that this must be the person that must be the president is not democratic.

pdpd changing the senate presidents has no correlation with this. OBJ or PDP never imposed any senate president on the senators.

Cletus77:
The NASS consists of lawmakers elected to represent the people on the platform of a party not the other way round.

APC never learn from the dangers of imposition. I won't be surprised that after all this Lawan noise, some aggrieved members with the backing of the opposition produces the Senate leader.

The legislature is an independent body full of matured people and the APC and it's committee should respect that

What do you think will happen if APC does not have a consensus candidate? Say 3 people are vying, with APC in that position any consensus by PDP will win.

If you were APC what will you do?

adanny01:


What do you think will happen if APC does not have a consensus candidate? Say 3 people are vying, with APC in that position any consensus by PDP will win.

If you were APC what will you do?

If Lawan is the best, that should be decision of the NASS not Oshiomole or Buhari

Wrong the speakers in the Uk parliment has no party affilations . Remember the uk system is parlimentary and not presidental so in uk a party that is not in the majority can still form a goverment .

adanny01:


In the UK, majority in the parliament forms a government from the PM to Speaker. No where in the world does the minority fight for such control especially exploiting personal greed of the majority members.

If PDP had no interest in the leadership but have interest in the policies, i bet you, this issue will not be outside the senate chambers. They would just sit and choose from who ever are the contestants in APC. But no, the APC members would do anything to lead so the sell the party to PDP. From the way PDP is going, they made themselves underdogs and would remain so. The government at the center will elude them only trying yo get back in using divisive and insincere methods.

Thank God voting pattern has changed, Bauchi a classic case, PDP governor APC assembly. People know to choose what they want now.

omusiliyu:
They should maintain the status quo.
NW: President
SW: V. President
NC: Senate President
SE: D. S. President...

Dino is the right man for the job

SaiDino

You mumu

A Buhari loyalist as Senate president?
Nigeria is FINISHED

toolovely:


your reasons are lame. its funny that same people who keep telling us that PDP failed Nigerians are always referring to PDP when they want to do same to some things.

first, the legislative arm is not an arm of any political party. the senate rules is that the senators should elect whoever they want as their leaders. the best the party that has the majority is to zone is to each position to geopolitical areas and anybody from that zone should be free to contest. but coming to tell them that this must be the person that must be the president is not democratic.

pdpd changing the senate presidents has no correlation with this. OBJ or PDP never imposed any senate president on the senators.

Let me start from the last.

I think that if PDP did worst than what is happening right now, their supporters should have no right to complain. The kind of executive interference by PDP was the worst Nigeria ever had but the same PDP and its supporters want NA left alone. Buhari did leave NA on its own, was the first to do so in this dispensation, you know were it got him.

Yes legislative arm is not an arm of any party but the party took them there and the legislature recognizes party affiliations thats why they have majority and minority leadership positions. You cant separate party, politics and leadership.

Ugosample:
A Buhari loyalist as Senate president?

Nigeria is FINISHED

Better than another Saraki.

adanny01:

Better than another Saraki.

we need an independent Senate president

adanny01:


Those who are against APC's position are the exact people that want APC to fail.

The idea is that APC should well ahead of time put their heads together for 1person unlike last time that consensus wasn't there so Saraki exploited the situation.

Now, there is a consensus but no, they dont want it. Who if i may ask doesnt want a consensus, only a person who wants APC to fail.

I dont blame the PDP, or its supporters, i blame Buhari. How many Senate Presidents did PDP or Obj change between 1999-2007? Where were these people when PDP did all that. The senate president was in the pocket of the PDP.

Buhari has tried for democracy but no PDP wont have it. PDP is hell bent on making sure Buhari doesnot give Nigerians good leadership so that their hope of looting will be kept alive.

Who does it benefit if APC has no consensus, lets call a spade a spade.

If Ali Ndume or any disgruntled APC senator does anything contrary to the consensus, its just greed and another attempt to cause 4 years of war between the executive and legislative. This only benefits the rejected PDP.

I even trust Goje and Ndume even if disgruntled, they'll still have to abide by the party's stance because of implications, they know better. Saraki was pushed and where is he today.

oforjide:
- Some senators-elect have expressed displeasure over the
recommendation of Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position of
Senate president
- The senators cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari
against allowing the National Assembly to be taken by
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's foot-soldiers
- The senators-elect also frowned at the recommendation of
Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila for speaker of the House of
Representatives
Some senators-elect have cautioned President Muhammadu
Buhari against allowing the National Assembly to be taken over
by the foot-soldiers of the national leader of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
According to Leadership, the senators said that the
recommendation by the APC that Senator Ahmed Lawan for the
Senate presidency was a plot to surrender the parliament to
Tinubu.
Legit.ng gathers that the senators said the touting of
Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila as the speaker of the House of
Representatives was in the same direction.
READ ALSO: NNPC recruitment: NANS wants age limit
removed, threatens mass protest
One of the senators said: “Lawan and Gbajabiamila are the
candidates of Tinubu. If they have their way, it means Tinubu
has extended his hold to the parliament. Already, he has the
vice president and the APC national chairman. What else is left
for others?”
He continued: “People are just keeping quiet because of their
respect for Buhari who believes that it’s payback time for
Tinubu. It shouldn’t be so because other people contributed
and they should be rewarded, accordingly.”
Another lawmaker from the north said: “He deliberately
brought his colloquium to Abuja as against Lagos, his usual
venue, because he wants to conquer the country. He feels that
it’s time for him to do so.
“He has pocketed Lagos and he is leaving no stone unturned to
pocket the country. Some of us are of the view that neutral
candidates should be considered for the National Assembly
leadership and not those whose allegiance will be to Tinubu
and not the country."

Tinubu's hatred and jealousness kill you there. For God sake, is the man asking you people not to play your games and do your homeworks well or is he stopping you people from eating or breathing. If you don't like his politics, bring a challenger to come challenge him. Bunch of scallywags

Iko5000:
Wrong the speakers in the Uk parliment has no party affilations . Remember the uk system is parlimentary and not presidental so in uk a party that is not in the majority can still form a goverment .

How is that possible when the speaker is elected among the MPs.

It is his oath at swearing in that forces him to drop all party affiliations.

UK is an advanced democracy unlike ours that even the loopholes in the constitution cannot be blocked.

Cletus77:

If Lawan is the best, that should be decision of the NASS not Oshiomole or Buhari

Did you tell Obj this?

Cletus77:
The NASS consists of lawmakers elected to represent the people on the platform of a party not the other way round.

APC never learn from the dangers of imposition. I won't be surprised that after all this Lawan noise, some aggrieved members with the backing of the opposition produces the Senate leader.

The legislature is an independent body full of matured people and the APC and it's committee should respect that

my thought and prediction as well