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More All Progressives Congress (APC) heavyweights have joined the mediation among aspirants for Senate President.
There are three contendersΒ β Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan, Appropriations Committee Chairman Danjuma Goje and Sen. Ali Ndume.
Lawan has been endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. Goje is said to be enjoying the backing of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders.
Following the tension created by the struggle for the seat, some APC leaders have met with Goje on the need to respect the wishes of the President and the APC.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, is also believed to have met with Goje.
Goje reportedly told the delegation that he would like βto hear from the President what he wants me to doβ.
It was gathered that the governors and ex-governors may facilitate another meeting between the President and Goje afterΒ the end of Buhariβs private visit to London.
According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the meeting with Goje was aimed at βhaving a united APC during the inauguration of the 9thΒ National Assembly in Juneβ.
The source said: βThe delegation met with Goje to persuade him to go along with the decision of the President and the directive of the party. We do not want a repeat of the 2015 episode.
βIt was also made clear at the meeting that the President does not have any personal relationship with Lawan. He only considered Lawanβs impeccable credentials and legislative experience to recommend him to senators-elect.
βGoje has one or two observations which can be amicably resolved at all levels in a win-win situation. We are working on these issues.β
βWe have conveyed Gojeβs sole demand to the President. We are hopeful that when the President returns, he will meet with the senator.
βBut the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari has also met with Goje on the intrigues over the 9thΒ Senate leadership.
βIf not for some remote forces behind the scene, we should have overcome this stress.β
The APC leadership is under pressure to concede the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Northcentral to foreclose the ambition of Hon. Ahmed IdrisΒ Wase (Plateau) and Hon.Β Umaru MohammedΒ Bago (Niger).
But some APC leaders in the Northwest have started agitating for Deputy Speaker slot for the zone.
It was, however, learnt yesterday that some APC governors are lobbying the party and forces in the presidency to allow Plateau to produce the Deputy Speaker.
The affected APC governors were alleged to be uncomfortable with Bago rated in the party as βa loyal associate of the outgoing Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.β
Said a source: βIf the party leaders are to choose between Wase and Bago, they will go for the former because he commands more followership and respect among lawmakers than Bago.
βThe alliance between Bago and Dogara has made the APC to be circumspect about his aspiration. So, the plot to zone the Deputy Speaker to the Northeentral is to abort his dream of leading the House.β
As at press time, it was learnt that all was not well in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) over the choice of the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.
The PDP governors are divided over three candidatesΒ βΒ Chukwuma Onyema, Nicholas Ossai andΒ Kingsley Chinda.
βThe governors have not reached a consensus on who will replace the outgoing Minority Leader,Β Leo Ogor.β
βPDP governors and House members-electΒ are split along those supporting Hon. Chukwuma Onyema, Hon. Nicholas Ossai and Hon. Kingsley Chinda. While Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is pushing for his kinsman, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP Rivers), other PDP governors are .
(C) The Nation
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