Senate President Bukola Saraki has told his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his hands are tied over the directive of the party that the other principal seats in the Senate be filled by those it has endorsed for the positions.
In a letter by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, national chairman of APC, the party had said: “Please find below for your necessary action names of principal officers approved by the party, after excessive consultations for the 8th Senate as follows: Senator Ahmed Lawan (Majority Leader)–North-East; Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip)–South-West; Sen. George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader)—North-Central; and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip)—North-West.”
The party had also released a statement on Thursday that it would not recognise any other persons except those it had endorsed for positions in the National Assembly.
But Saraki reportedly disobeyed the directive and instead announced principal officers who were allegedly picked by the zonal caucuses of the Senate.
As announced by Saraki on Thursday, Senator Ali Ndume is Senate Leader and Bala Ibn Na’Allah is Senate Deputy Leader.
In a reply to the letter by the APC national chairman, dated 25th June, 2015 that was obtained by our correspondent on Friday, Saraki stressed that the zonal caucuses of the Senate had conveyed the lists of their nominees for the seats before the letter from the party got to him.
He said as a result of this, his hands are tied.
However, he pledged his loyalty to the party.
Recall that after naming the new principal officers on Thursday, the Senate adjourned till 21st July.
