APC Far From Consensus On Lawan As Groups Back Ndume For Senate President

Moves by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC to stem the crisis in the party over the choice of a new Senate President further got embroiled in controversy after support for Ali Ndume got traction.

The outgoing Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan had lately been endorsed by the leadership of the National Working Committee, NWC of the APC.

However, that endorsement was on Sunday poohpoohed by the Northeast Elders and Stakeholders Forum in the Federal Capital Territory FCT and the North Central Zone of National Councillors Forum.

The views of the stakeholders follow mutterings within the leadership and ranks of the party over the alleged plot by the APC leadership to railroad Senator Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate of the party.

The councilors forum in its endorsement of Ndume read out by zonal  Chairman of the Councillors Forum, Hon. Dogara John Bassa said:

“We the members and executives of the councillors forum wish to however register our sadness and concerns over the build-up to the inauguration of they 9th Senate as it simply amount to imposition and disenfranchisement of equally qualified candidates from the fold of the ruling party, the APC. 

“In the first place, we wish to reiterate that every Senator-elect is eminently qualified for the post of the Senate President but according to popular demands from the grassroots and the facts we have deduced from the musings the campaigns and mudslinging have caused, we are constrained to speak with one voice and to say that irrespective of who the party hierarchy feels the cap fits, Distinguished Senator Ali Mohammed Ndume deserves the seat. 

“As Senate Leader for example, all the bills and letters requesting for the senate approval from the Executive were defended by Ndume. Instances abound, from planned rejection of Buhari’s nominees, Rotimi Amaechi and acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC,  Ibrahim Magu, Ndume stuck his neck to ensure that the President’s nominations went through even though it began the genesis of his travails with Senate President Bukola Saraki, that led to his removal and installation of Sen. Ahmed Lawan to the seat who compromised and coIluded with Team Saraki,” the group said.

While endorsing Ndume, the Northeast Elders Forum led by Major Peter Janka (rtd.) while noting the crucial role of the Senate, said:

“Names are being mentioned here and there about who is interested in what position or the other. That is politics and everyone among the 109 Senators for instance is qualified to be the President of the Senate. We don’t begrudge them, it is anybody’s right to aspire but we want to quickly join others calling and supporting the candidature of Senator Ali Mohammed Ndume, a ranking senator from Borno south senatorial district of Borno state. 

“Without mincing words, we hereby throw our weight and support behind Senator Ndume, an amiable, loyal and defender of party principles and ideology. He has been tested and throughout his gestation period he acted proudly to the admiration of party members irrespective of the geo political zone. We don’t need to remind that while he held sway as the Senate Leader, under his watch, all the bills and letters requesting for the senate approval were defended stoutly by Ndume.”

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