ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. All Progressives Congress (APC) is almost certain to allow its senators and House of Representatives members-elect, who are interested in leading the eighth National Assembly, to go for elections, Nigerian Tribune learnt on Sunday night.
A principal officer of the party confirmed the inability of the leadership to persuade aspirants to the leadership positions in both chambers to step down for the favourites.
He was, however, confident that the new ruling party would retain the top jobs in both chambers, though the occupants of the seats might not be the choices of the party leadership.
The positions of Senate presidency and Speaker of the House of Representatives had polarised the party over the zones that should produce the occupants and who the occupants should be.
He also confirmed the undercurrents currently playing out, which may see the anointed of the party losing both the Senate presidency and speakership positions.
It was gathered that with the favourable disposition to the emergence of former Benue State governor, Senator George Akume, a new coalition is reportedly being built to ensure that the choice is defeated.
The new coalition is reportedly in favour of former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, also a strong aspirant to the position.
The arrangement, according to a party chieftain privy to it, would see senators-elect from the states of the five former PDP governors that defected to APC teaming up with PDP senators-elect, to easily defeat the APC’s choice.
When reminded that incumbent Senator David Mark is also in pole position to snatch the job if APC allows its aspirants to go for election, the party NEC member said the arrangement would still produce an APC Senate president, but with a lot of concession to PDP in the Senate.
He could not confirm if Mark would not stand for consideration.
The same arrangement was also reportedly being planned for the leadership positions in the House of Representatives, with Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, the suspected choice of the party leadership, to be defeated by the coalition.
The party chieftain said APC set a dangerous precedent with outgoing Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, adding that a disloyal National Assembly leadership could be the beginning of a major crack in the party.
When asked whether the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, could not fix it, he said Buhari had no problem with Saraki emerging but could also not ride rough-shod on the South-West caucus which is against his ambition.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
