National Assembly leadership: APC moves to pacify aggrieved aspirants…

The All Progressives Congress on Thursday began negotiations with Senators contesting the Presidency of the Senate for the 10th National Assembly.

The National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, during a meeting with aggrieved Senate presidency aspirants in Abuja, said the party would study the protest letter submitted by the aspirants as part of fresh consultations.

Adamu said the party would study the letter with a view to making amends where necessary.

The lawmakers in attendance at the meeting included a former Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; the senator-elect representing Imo West, Osita Izunaso; Sani Musa (Niger East), Umar Sadiq (Kwara North) and the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu.

The meeting took place 24 hours after angry contestants for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives stormed the national secretariat to query the decision by the ruling party and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

The development followed the rejection of the party’s adoption of a former Minority Senate leader and ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, for the position of Senate president in the 10th National Assembly.

The APC National Working Committee had endorsed Akpabio from the South-South geopolitical zone as the President of the 10th Senate and Tajudeen Abass from the North-West as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The party also selected Senator Barau Jibrin from the North-West as the Deputy Senate president while Benjamin Kalu from the South-East was nominated as deputy speaker.

But the decision was greeted with protests and anger by other contestants, particularly North-Central lawmakers whose region was sidelined by the party leadership in the power-sharing deal.

Also, the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu faulted the zoning arrangement adopted by the party leadership.

But responding to complaints during the meeting with aspirants, Adamu acknowledged their objection which he said would be considered by the NWC.