THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plans to poach 13 All Progressives Congress (APC) returning and new Senators to forestall the emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan as the President of the 9th Senate President, APC sources have said.

A source said two Senators approached to be arrow heads of the plans alerted the party hierarchy and Lawan’s campaign team.

The two senators, one a returning and the other just elected, said a source, were expected to lead PDP to their colleagues from Adamawa, Taraba, Ekiti, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano and Kebbi states.

The PDP, said our sources, are working for an APC Senator from Gombe.

A ranking Senator said: “At the moment, Lawan is the candidate to beat, using well known international parliamentary best practices and parameters.

“All odds are in his favour in terms of experience in the administration of the legislature. He has been in the National Assembly in the last 20 solid years. His achievements at the Committee level are unassailable. Remember the engine room of legislation is the Committee stage. Don’t forget he has a Phd.”

A senator-elect, who turned down the PDP offer, said: “In all parliaments, be it in the Presidential System or Parliamentary System the world over, leadership or presiding officers emerge based on their experiences as leaders of the caucuses. Thus, when a party gains a majority after a general election into Parliament, the leader of the caucus of such a party in the legislature transforms to be the President or Speaker of such parliament in a seamless process. It is an established practice and all stakeholders should make sure we act in conformity with the international standard in this respect.

“They also discussed with us the revival of the ‘Like Minds Group’ of 2015 and their various social media campaign of calumny, most especially their deliberate attempt to link a National Leader of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, to the emergence of Senator Ahmad.”

Meanwhile, the Initiative for Demonstrating Change in Nigeria (IDCN), a pro Buhari group, backed Lawan’s aspiration.

The, group, therefore, urged members-elect of the National Assembly to support the decision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect Lawan as Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the Federal House Representatives.

Mr Chinedu Ogah, the National Coordinator of the group, who spoke to reporters in Abakaliki, said the contributions of Lawan as the Majority Leader of the 8th Senate were far reaching as they boosted the unity of the country.

Ogah said: “Ahmed Lawan has displayed maturity as the true leader that will unite the national assembly.

” He is a lover of democracy, intelligent, humble and believer in one Nigeria. We should elect him as the Senate President because he has displayed that he does not put party interest above national interest.”

Nackzy:
I Repeat PDP should Team up with few senators in APC and elect a new Senate president from APC and Deputy from PDP..., They are all Nigerians, the most important thing is choosing someone who can say no when Adams Osiomohle, Tinubu, Kayrri and the rest want to Manipulate Nigerians

Nackzy:
I Repeat PDP should Team up with few senators in APC and elect a new Senate president from APC and Deputy from PDP..., They are all Nigerians, the most important thing is choosing someone who can say no when Adams Osiomohle, Tinubu, Kayrri and the rest want to Manipulate Nigerians

Nackzy:
I Repeat PDP should Team up with few senators in APC and elect a new Senate president from APC and Deputy from PDP..., They are all Nigerians, the most important thing is choosing someone who can say no when Adams Osiomohle, Tinubu, Kayrri and the rest want to Manipulate Nigerians

tesppidd:


Opposition is just too painful for PDP to bear.

During their time for 16 years they grabbed it all.

Today they snoop around for moles, cockroaches, rats and snakes in the APC like Saraki to create anomalies in the polity.

Useless party for looters, of looters and by looters.

obembet:
This is why Nigeria can never move forward. Just cos your party lost, the only way to help your nation is to frustrate other party instead of way for for your nation. I will keep saying this, PDP are not different from APC. I only pity animals that are supporting them.

tesppidd:


Opposition is just too painful for PDP to bear.

During their time for 16 years they grabbed it all.

Today they snoop around for moles, cockroaches, rats and snakes in the APC like Saraki to create anomalies in the polity.

Useless party for looters, of looters and by looters.

tesppidd:


Opposition is just too painful for PDP to bear.

During their time for 16 years they grabbed it all.

Today they snoop around for moles, cockroaches, rats and snakes in the APC like Saraki to create anomalies in the polity.

Useless party for looters, of looters and by looters.

Awol1:


The most dangerous thing that will happen to Nigeria and Nigerians is for us to have a Senate president who will be a rubber stamp of the executive being remote controlled from Aso Rock and Bourdillorn at worst.

I repeat it that Danjuma Goje is our Next Senate president

Lymasaba:

What do u achieve as a nation with the one that is not

Nackzy:
I Repeat PDP should Team up with few senators in APC and elect a new Senate president from APC and Deputy from PDP..., They are all Nigerians, the most important thing is choosing someone who can say no when Adams Osiomohle, Tinubu, Kayrri and the rest want to Manipulate Nigerians

Awol1:


The most dangerous thing that will happen to Nigeria and Nigerians is for us to have a Senate president who will be a rubber stamp of the executive being remote controlled from Aso Rock and Bourdillorn at worst.

I repeat it that Danjuma Goje is our Next Senate president

adanny01:


Nigerians, we wish what we get.

Now, if as a result of feuds between the legislature and executive becomes worst, who do you think will be affected?

Am sure you care less, as long as PDP has its way.

Awol1:


Where in the world does the executive nominate the head of the legislature?

Cite instances or bounce.