- Crisis rocking APC over the leadership of 9th Senate has taken another twist over zoning of deputy Senate president
- It was gathered that the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, had zoned the DSP to south-south
- Members of of the party's NWC were said to have protested Oshiomhole's unilateral decision on the zoning
The zoning of deputy Senate president position to south-south by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next National Assembly is causing serious cracks in the party as some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), have moved against the national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
The Sun reports that the party recently zoned the position of the Senate president to the northeast and endorsed the candidacy of Ahmad Lawan.
Legit.ng gathered that for the position of the speaker of the House of Representatives, it endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila from the southwest while the north central is expected to produce the deputy speaker.
READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda
The newspaper gathered that the party has zoned the position of the deputy president of the Senate to the south-south and endorsed Francis Alimekhena who hails from the same senatorial district with Oshiomhole for the position.
Although the party has not officially made the endorsement public, it was learnt that Alimikhena, who represents Edo north senatorial district, has been given the nod to commence campaign and reach out to his colleagues.
Alimikhena, who is the incumbent deputy chief whip of the Senate, has reportedly been endorsed by the presidency.
Also jostling for the position of the deputy president of the Senate are Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia); Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta); Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos); Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano) and Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu).
A source, according to the newspaper, said some members of the NWC of APC from the southeast, are protesting the exclusion of the geopolitical zone by the party.
According to the source, Oshiomhole have been accused of hijacking the party and running it as a private estate.
The source claimed that Oshiomhole, in consultation with some members of the party, agreed on the zoning arrangement, without recourse to the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC) for ratification.
He blamed leaders of the southeast APC for failing to lobby for any position as soon as the general elections were over, adding that while leaders from other zones made cases for their interest, southeast leaders did not speak up or lobby.
It was gathered that the party spokesman, Lanre Issa-Onilu, did not deny or confirm it.
“I can’t confirm or deny. Yes, I am a member of NWC, but I can’t confirm or deny it for now. The party will speak on that,” he said.
READ ALSO: Tinubu ignorant about process of budget passage - Dogara lectures APC chief
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that as the conversations over the leadership of 9th National Assembly reached its peak a member of the House of Representatives, Anayo Edwin Nwonu, said only the lawmakers would elect their leaders when the 9th NASS resumes in June.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better
What has changed in Nigeria since the last election? | - on Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
