- The APC has said it would send anybody who flouts its decision on choice of leadership for 9th National Assembly to early retirement
- The party has chosen Senator Ahmed Lawan as its preferred choice for Senate president
- But Senator Ali Ndume has vowed that he would contest the position despite the party's choice
Ahmed Wambai, the north central national vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that any member of the party who renege on the decision of the party as regards the choice of the National Assembly leadership would face the consequences of their disloyalty.
Daily Nigeria reports that Wambai, in an interview with newsmen in Lafia, urged the members of the party in the National Assembly to respect the decisions of the party at all times.
Legit.ng gathered that he said in 2015 when Senator Saraki came through the back door without the input of the party and the executive, the president kept quiet but it later led to the retirement of some people in the arena.
He, however, blamed the media for the hype over the issue of the leadership of the National Assembly.
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“The media both electronic and print together with some people who are not members of the APC have been amplifying the matter making unnecessary funfair, this an APC," he added.
He also denied the assertion that the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, was teleguiding and forcing decisions on the party especially on the issue of the leadership of the National Assembly. According to him, Tinubu was quoted out of context over a statement that anybody who would not accept Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker should leave the party.
He added: “Tinubu is a respected party leader but he is not a member of NWC and the decision to zone positions was not initiated by Tinubu even the president only concurred with the position of the party, we are not been teleguided by Tinubu or the president it’s a purely party decision."
Wambai disclosed that the party had taken a decision on Ahmed Lawan as the Senate president after wide consultation and discussion with relevant stakeholders.
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“We didn’t not take the decision alone but made consultations at every level but we can’t stop any body from contesting because he has the right as a Nigerian,” he added.
He said the decision to pick Lawan was for his loyalty and respect for the party and that the decision was also accepted by President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the party thought it morally right to reward Lawan who was at the forefront of championing the cause of the party during the defection saga.
“The party has taken a decision, Mr. President has graciously taken a position what we expect from all our loyal party members is compliance from the position of the party," he added.
He further explained that the party is yet to take any decision on the speaker as those saying Gbajabiamila is the party’s choice are ignorant of the internal workings of the APC.
“Although anybody can aspire for the speaker but the party is yet to take a decision on who emerges as the speaker or which zone produces the next speaker of the national assembly.
“The party cannot be pre-empted we only spoke on the senate president since the president is from the north west, the vice president from south west, and the senate president should go to the north central if the status quo will be maintained or to north east for power sharing equation."
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He added that the party would wield its big stick against any party member who renegade on that decision. Wambai said that the party hierarchy would be present at the National Assembly during the election of the leadership to witness proceedings.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the APC, Yobe state chapter, on Friday, April 12, advised Senator Ali Ndume (Borno-APC), to respect supremacy of the party and avoid placing personal interest above collective interest.
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Source: Legit.ng
