Tag Archives: akume

Senate Crisis: Lawan, Akume, Others Boycott Senate Plenary As Ekweremadu Presides

Posted on by
2

The Senate yesterday witnessed another drama in the leadership contest between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress as Senator Ahmed Lawan, who contested the Senate Presidency seat against Senator Bukola Saraki at the inception, and his supporters boycotted the sitting, presided over by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu.
For the first time since he emerged Deputy Senate President in the 8th Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, presided over the plenary.

 

Unsatisfied that Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwer­emadu, a member of the op­position Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presided over Wednesday’s plenary, Senator Ahmad Lawan and his supporters boycotted the sitting.

 

The Senate plenary, which usually begins shortly after 10:30am, was delayed up to 11:30am, following the ab­sence of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was away at Aso Rock to attend the swearing-in of ministers by President Muhammadu Bu­hari.

 

Senators, who had turned up for the day’s sitting were seen loitering the Senate lob­by with a few of them already seated at the chamber, appar­ently waiting for Saraki to pre­side at plenary.

 

In his stead, the mantle fell on Ekweremadu, who is also a presiding officer.

 

A section of the APC, which has majority members in the chamber, were not happy and showed their displeasure by boycotting the session.

 

Wednesday, November 11 was the first time Ekwerema­du would preside at plenary since his election on June 9.

 

Immediately the Deputy Senate President mounted the seat, Chairman of the Com­mittee on Defence, Sena­tor Lawan and his loyalists, among who were the former governor of Benue State and Senator representing Benue North West, George Akume, and Senator Sulei­man Hunkuyi, representing Kaduna Central, refused to go inside the chamber.

 

Senators Lawan, Akume and Hunkuyi stood at the Sen­ate lobby for over 15 minutes and discussed among them­selves while plenary was on. They were joined by a few of their colleagues later.

 

Thereafter, the Senators re­tired to their personal offices.

 

Hunkuyi later told reporters that their action was predicat­ed on their belief that Ekwer­emadu, “a product of illegality cannot preside at plenary.

 

“I, personally will never at­tend any sitting of the Senate that is being presided by Sena­tor Ekweremadu because he is a product of illegality,” he reiterated to newsmen.

 

Later, Hunkuyi, in an un­signed press statement, tagged :”The conspiracy against the APC finally consummated,” accused Saraki of handing over the Senate leadership to the opposition PDP.

 

In a swift reaction, Chair­man of the Committee on Me­dia and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullah, denied that any conspiracy of any nature against Senators.

 

Credit : Daily Sun

Amendment Of 1999 Constitution Dead With Jonathan’s Exit – Akume

Posted on by
1

Minority Leader Senate, George Akume, yesterday, has decried the impossible actualization of the National Assembly overriding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto on the 1999 Constitution Amendment Bill, passed by the National Assembly. Akume said the inability of Jonathan to assent to the bill before the end of his tenure has rendered the bill dead, saying there was nothing the legislature can do to get the amendment becomes law.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Akume, who represents Benue North West in the Senate under the All Progressives Congress, APC, said even as the Supreme Court asked both the Federal Government and the National Assembly to settle the issue out of court, the court did not ask that the government made modifications nor ask the legislature to override the president’s veto.

“The issue here is very clear, if it was not assented to, I do not know what you want us to do. It is very clear that this particular bill will now struggle to find a place in the new Senate, which is the 8th Senate. Jonathan has left and the bill is still a bill until it is assented to. The Supreme Court has made its own pronouncement, the Supreme Court didn’t say go and override or the president should go and make concession. One way or the other, this issue has not been resolved, so that is the responsibility of the 8th Senate if they feel it is a major priority for the Senate,” he said.

Responding to question on why he jettisoned his ambition to become the Senate President in the 8th Senate and instead, seeking to become deputy, Senator Akume said: “That is the dynamism of politics, politics is like that and what we have sought to do and we have been trying to do is to as much as possible, have an internal realignment, consolidate and move forward. Basically, that is what has been done.”

Moreover, Akume, defended the President’s decsion to move the military command headquarters to Maiduguri, saying it was the only way out if the nation was prepared to win the war against insurgency in the North East.

“The movement of the military command headquarters to the epicenter of the insurgency is a step in the right direction. There is no way you will be fighting terror in, for instance, Makurdi and then your headquarters is in Abuja or it’s in Jos. It is always good to be there to make direct assessment and to confront the challenges headlong. I think apart from saying he was moving it, he was also dedicated to the training of the Armed Forces. I think these are very important,” he insisted.

He said the APC- led government was aware of the expectations of Nigerians from it, saying the party, through its leader and president, Muhammadu Buhari, was up to the task. “The president himself is a tested person as I had said and he is going to live by example. And so, we have no doubt that these problems are going to be tackled but he himself said these problems can never be over within a fortnight. He had said it before, that solutions to complex problems cannot be as instant as coffee and I employ Nigerians not to look back, we are very determined and by the grace of God, we are going to meet the expectations of the people,” he added.

Confusion In APC Over N’Assembly Leadership

Posted on by
1

Strong indications emerged on Tuesday that a crisis is brewing within the All Progressives Congress over the zoning of National Assembly leadership posts such as the Senate Presidency and the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

A senate presidential candidate, Senator Bukola Saraki, had on Tuesday tweeted that the party’s National Working Committee had zoned the headship of the Senate to the North-Central.

Saraki stated, “I am delighted that the NWC (National Working Committee) of our dear party yesterday (Monday) reaffirmed its earlier decision to zone (the) position of Senate President to the North- Central.”

Besides Saraki, who is from Kwara State, which is located in the North-Central zone, Senator Ahmad Lawan from Yobe State in the North-East, is also contesting the senate presidency.

Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos State in the South-West is contesting the speakership of the House of Representatives with Yakubu Dogara of Bauchi State (North-East) and Muhammed Mungono of Borno State (North-East).

But in an apparent reference to Saraki, the APC NWC denied reports that it had zoned the Senate Presidency to the North-Central and the Speakership of the House of Representatives to the South-West.

The party, in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, on Tuesday, said that such an agreement existed in the figment of the imagination of its authors.

The party said, “Nothing like that ever happened.”

Read more at punchng

Why Akume Dumped Senate President Bid- Report

Posted on by
Reply

The rat race for the Senate Presidency in the 8th assembly intensified on Sunday as Senator George Akume from the North-central who went as far as mounting a billboard in front of the National Assembly Complex had flyers littering the streets of Abuja announcing his Senate Presidency ambition suddenly threw in the towel and made a u-turn by stepping down for Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan from North-east.

Akume has however agreed to run on the same ticket with Lawan as Deputy Senate President. “We, the Senate Unity Forum, comprising of Senators-elect from various States and zones of Nigeria, have met, held extensive discussions and resolved to support Senator Ahmad Lawan as Senate President and Senator George Akume as Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate,” Gemade said following this development.

Flanked by Senators and Senators-elect, Gemade said: “Kindly take this to be our collective decision in the best interest of our party, APC and our dear nation.”

According to reports, Senator George Akume, and the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who is notoriously famous for imposing candidate on the party, last month met with Akume.

Tinubu had in the meeting told Akume to shelve his ambition and support Senator Ahmed Lawan, who represents Yobe-North senatorial district in the 8th Senate.

The battle for the Senate Presidency was between the North-east and the North-central and Akume, who is currently the Senate Minority Leader, represents the Benue-North senatorial district in the Senate.

Senator Bukola Saraki, who represents Kwara-Central senatorial district in the North-central geopolitical zone, had also openly expressed his intention to contest for the number three seat in the country.

Tinubu had explained to Akume that Lawan and Senator Mark are very close and already, some members of the PDP support him.

“Lawan has a good track record in the Senate and has been backed by almost all the Senators in the North-east who feel the zone has been seriously marginalized.

“The catch there is that if the APC members in the Senate do not support Lawan and he wins the Senate Presidency with bloc votes from the PDP and his friends in the North-east, he will be loyal to the PDP and may sideline us just as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, attributed his victory to the APC back in 2011 even though he was a member of the PDP,’’ an APC Senator who quoted Tinubu said.

“Akume was also asked to step down by Tinubu because the North-central, where he hails from, had been holding the Senate Presidency since 2007 while the North-east had never presided over the upper chamber of the National Assembly since independence.”

He added that giving the North-east the seat would also be a way of rewarding them for giving the APC the second highest number of votes during the presidential election. “The current Senate President is from Benue State and has been in charge for eight years.

“Would it be fair to also hand over the Senate Presidency to another person from Benue?”

Reports have emerged that some influential backers behind Akume led by Tinubu have withdrawn their support mainly because they see he is not their choice as Senate President, and any attempt to railroad him will be rejected.

Apart from that, Akume decided to step down for Lawan because of the intimidating qualities the latter has and he cannot contend with.

Read More: post-nigeria

Senate Presidency: Akume Steps Down For Lawan, Saraki

Posted on by
Reply

At the end of a two-day retreat organised by the All Progressives Congress, APC,for Senators elected under the platform of the party, two major contenders for the Senate Presidency have emerged.

Former Governor of Kwara state, Bukola Saraki, who PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported had the backing of 34 Senators as at the time the retreat began is still ahead of the chairman Senate committee on Public Accounts, Ahmed Lawan, from Yobe State.

Another contender, former Benue Governor, George Akume, has reportedly stepped down for Mr. Lawan in exchange for being selected as the Deputy Senate President.

Although the party did not formally address the press or issue a communique at the end of the retreat, two groups, “Like Mind Senators” and “Senate Unity Forum” separately addressed the press and declared their support for the two candidates.

The ‘like mind senators’ who said they are 35 in number out of the 59 APC Senators expressed their support for Mr. Saraki. The remaining 24 in the Senate Unity Forum expressed support for Mr. Lawan who is said to enjoy the support of APC national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.

Senator-elect Dino Melaye, who address the press on behalf of the ‘Like Mind Senators’ displayed to the media a document he said contained the signatures of 35 Senators who have agreed to support Mr. Saraki.

Mr. Melaye’s address came shortly after the ‘Senate Unity Forum’ also addressed the media where it announced that Mr. Akume had stepped down for Mr. Lawan.

In the address by Mr. Melaye, he said “Of the 59 senators of the APC, 35 of us present here today hereby reaffirm our collective commitment and resolution to ensure that the candidature of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the Senate President of the 8th Assembly.” He also said the deputy to Mr. Saraki would come from the north-east, although no name was mentioned for the position as consultations continue.

On their part, the Senate Unity Forum in their address read by former national chairman of the PDP, Barnabas Gemade, said they have adopted a joint ticket of Messrs. Lawan and Akume.

“We, the Senate Unity Forum, comprising of senators-elect from various states and zones of Nigeria, have met, held extensive discussions and resolved to support Senator Ahmad Lawan as Senate President and Senator George Akume as Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate,” Mr. Gemade said.

With the positions taken by the two group, what is left is for them to lobby their colleagues from other parties especially the PDP. A lawmaker attending the retreat had informed PREMIUM TIMES Sunday that Mr. Saraki has the support of majority PDP senators-elect. He said the candidature of the former Kwara governor is being championed in the PDP group by Senators Andy Uba and Godswill Akpabio. Mr. Saraki defected from the PDP to the APC following the crisis of 2013 when five governors left the PDP for the APC.

Credit: premiumtimesng

Senate Presidency Controversy; 35 APC Senators-Elect Endorse Saraki, Others Endorse Lawan

Posted on by
Reply

The ongoing bid for the Presidency of the Senate on Saturday took a different turn as All Progressives Congress senators-elect, rising from a retreat, broke into factions to endorse different candidates.

While 35 out of the 59 APC senators-elect led by Mr Dino Melaye endorsed Sen. Bukola Saraki (APC Kwara-Central), another faction led by Sen. Barnabas Gemade endorsed Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe-North).

Briefing Newsmen, Mr Dino Melaye, said that he and 34 others senators-elect of “like minds’’ had signed the endorsement of Sen. Saraki as their candidate for the Senate Presidency.

He said that the senators of like minds were interested in having a Senate President who had integrity, competence and ability to stabilise the legislative institution.

Melaye insisted that the position had already been zoned to the North-Central by the party in spite of recent stance by a party leader, Bola Tinubu that the position would not be zoned.

“Of the 59 Senators of the APC, 35 of us present here today hereby reaffirm our collective commitment and resolution to ensure the candidature of Saraki as the Senate President of 8th Assembly.

“We have also resolved that the office of the Deputy Senate President be zoned to the North-East.

“All senators from the North-Central zone have taken a firm position that they are only interested in the office of the Senate President.

“This is because the position had earlier been zoned to the North-Central by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

“North-central senators have resolved to abide by the resolution of the zone on a single candidate and anything short of this is an attempt to jeopardise the collective interest of the zone,” he said.

He said that the group had yet to decide on who would be the consensus candidate for the position of the Deputy Senate President.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Sen. Gemade led group; “Senate Unity Forum’’ said that they had endorsed Sen. Ahmed Lawan for the Presidency of the Senate and Sen. George Akume as his Deputy.

“We the Senate Unity Forum comprising senators-elect from various states have met, held extensive discussions and resolved to support Lawan as Senate President.

“Kindly take this to be our collective decision in the best interest of our party, APC and our dear nation Nigeria,” he said.

The resolution was signed by Sen. Gemade as the spokesperson as well as Lawan and Akume.

However, the number of senators-elect in the Senate Unity Forum, who supported Lawan was not disclosed to the newsmen.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Sen. Akume in a briefing on Friday insisted that he was still in the race for the presidency of the senate. (NAN)

Why I Am The Most Qualified For Senate Presidency – Sen. Akume

Posted on by
Reply

The Senate Minority Leader, Sen. George Akume, on Friday said that he was the most qualified candidate for the position of the Senate presidency.

Akume, who represents the people of Benue North-West under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Akume said that going by the presidential system of government which Nigeria practices, the minority leader should automatically takeover the leadership if his party man emerges as president.

“We are practicing the presidential system of government and in that system, the path of succession to leadership in the legislature is clearly established; as minority leader, automatically I should have become the president.

“I got into the senate after eight years as the governor of Benue state.

“During my stay here, I moved from the PDP which I co-formed to the ACN and eventually I became the minority leader of APC after the merger and from that vantage position I became the chairman of the minority caucus.

“I believe that given my track records and the fact that I have been leading the caucus in the senate, I should be considered the most worthy man to preside over the affairs of the 8th Senate.

“For anybody to say that I should withdrew is purely in the imagination of a few, I do not have any skeletons in my cupboard,” he said.

This is exemplified recently, in the U.S. whose democracy we copied, where the minority leader automatically rose to become speaker. That is the way things are done.

On the lingering issue of zoning, Akume said that zoning was a deliberate attempt to ensure inclusion in the politics of Nigeria.

He said that Nigeria was very complex in its structures and diversity and such complexities must be appropriately handled for unity.

“Today, people may want to overlook and override the importance of zoning but strategic positions should be zoned and rotated.

“Zoning is part and parcel of the politics of Nigeria, even if zoning is not expressly stated in our constitution, there must be fairness and balance in the occupation of strategic position.

“This has also given us stability in the last 16 years; we should not throw away zoning, it is acceptable to me.

“I have not heard from the party that they have jettisoned zoning, I am a faithful party man,” he said.

He dismissed the reservation in some quarters about him emerging since his would-be predecessor, Sen. David Mark, was from the same region and state, adding it would not be new to the nation’s legislature.

He cited that the North has produced three presidents so far in the persons of Shehu Shagari, Shehu Musa Ya’Adua and now President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

“You will want to find out why Hon. Salisu Buhari was speaker from Kano (North-West), after him Ghali Na’abba from Kano (North-West) then Aminu Masari from Katsina (North-West).

“So, you can see that precedence has already been established, Benue (North Central) will not be breaking new grounds.

“The North is not complaining, if you look at the leadership of the north they are not complaining, all they are saying is that it is wonderful for the unity of the North.

“They are saying that we should look beyond 2015 to 2019, they are not opposed to the issue of the Senate Presidency coming to the North-Central,” he said.

Akume clarified that contrary to purported rumours, he does not have any disagreements with Bola Tinubu or any other leader of the APC as being rumoured in the social media. (NAN)

Former Lagos CP Calls Akume A Drunk, Says He Is Too Corrupt To Be Senate President

Posted on by
Reply

According to scannewsnigeria Former Lagos CP, Abubakar Tsav, said Akume is too corrupt to be senate presidency. Excerpt…

“Ordinarily, it would be a thing of joy if a Tiv man is elected Senate President. Like Sen David Mark, he would help to uplift the Tiv people to lime light and give jobs to our teaming youths.That Tiv man is definitely not Sen George Akume who is a drunk and grossly irresponsible.

He is violent and quarrelsome. Even in churches, he uses obscene language to abuse Elders. I witnessed that in the Catholic Cathedral in Gboko. This apart, he lacks democratic credentials.

He is corrupt and violent. During his tenure as Governor, he caused the deaths of many youths in Kwande and Tarkaa LGA who were opposed to him. He is violently intolerant.

His handling of the fanthom Egumale Cement Factory, Sheraton Hotel Project, Fertiliser Blending Plant, Benkim Pastic Factory etc all in Benue State, in which huge sums of Tax Payers money was paid with no job done, brings his integrity to question. I still have all relevant documents in my possession.

Although I can not influence or prevent the appointment of Sen Akume as Senate President, I will wait and assess Gen Buhari’s approach to cases of corruption before I re validate my complaint against Sen George Akume.”

Credit: scannewsnigeria

Benue State Backs Akume For Senate Presidency

Posted on by
Reply

Political leaders in the Benue State are backing George Akume’s candidature for the position of Senate President.

The leaders, under the auspices of Benue Rebirth Initiative, expressed their commitment to work for the success of the legislator in his bid to succeed David Mark.

“We sincerely wish to use this medium to affirm to Nigerians and the rest of Africa that the bitter tribal discord between the various ethnic components of Benue State has been buried through the concerted efforts of this group in honour of Senator George Akume’s detribalized and nationalistic posture,” the organisation said.

The organisation said Akume’s Senate Presidency would bring rapid development of the north central geopolitical hemisphere by the practical demonstration of his mass followership cutting across every stratum of the society and the expected collaboration with the incoming administration of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to deliver on the All Progressives Congress manifesto.

“We wish to throw our total support behind Senator George Akume, which is not only to confirm his evergreen political image in the minds of the poor masses of Benue State but to reaffirm our commitment to the unity of purpose that the interest of Benue State must come before the selfish interest of a few minority in the land.”

Benue Rebirth Initiative said it had carefully analyzed the various arguments canvassed in favour of Akume, who is a former Governor of the state and present minority leader of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, expressing confidence that Akume perfectly fitted into the various arguments centred on religion, legislative experience, strength of character, goodwill, masses oriented ideology.

“This rare gesture particularly from his party men and women at the All Progressive Congress is a pointer to the fact that Benue’s position in our democratic experience cannot be over emphasized at this point in time.”

Credit: CAJ News

Senate Presidency Tussle: Akume Meets Obasanjo, Tinubu, Atiku, Kwankwaso

Posted on by
Reply

Ahead of the zon­ing of the Senate Presidency, former governor of Benue State and one of the top con­tenders to the nation’s num­ber three position, Senator George Akume, has intensi­fied consultations, meeting leaders of the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) and other stakeholders.

Akume, last week, met with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu and former Osun State gover­nor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyin­lola, in the South West.

The former Benue State governor, who is returning to the Senate for the third time, met all the leaders in their respective domains in Abeo­kuta, Lagos and Okuku, re­spectively.

Though there was no of­ficial statement after each of the meetings, it was gathered that the parleys might not be unconnected with the position of Senate Presidency.

Sources told Daily Sun that Akume had also met with former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, who may likely emerge as chairman of the APC Board of Trustees.

Also, the former governor had visited Kano State Gov­ernor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, a senator-elect. He also met Prof Ango Abdullahi, an in­fluential northern elder; a for­mer Inspector-General of Po­lice, Ibrahim Coomasie and former Kogi State Governor, Prince Abubakar Audu.

One of Akume’s aides, said of the meeting: “Senator Akume is a very highly re­garded statesman in his own right. Consultations with like-minded leaders on issues bor­dering on our socio-politics should be a routine affair.”

On the Senate presidency contest, the aide stated: “If the APC is truly about change, that change should reflect in the way we do things; so, we send a very strong message to all Nigerians that they can be assured of a sense of belong­ing irrespective of where they come from.

“We have produced a Pres­ident-elect from a majority ethnicity; we have produced a vice-president-elect from an­other majority ethnic group. APC must be sensitive to the sensitivities of the minorities across both divides of the Ni­ger.

“Come to think of it, the outgoing President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is from a minority ethnic group. What is in stock for the minorities in the incoming administra­tion?”

Read More: sunnewsonline

Senate Presidency: Tinubu Dumps Akume

Posted on by
1

There are strong indications that the former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinibu may have withdrawn his support for George Akume to become the new Senate President. Tinubu’s decision to dump Akume follows pressure from the Senators that he should allow them elect their own Senate President. The Senators had reportedly told Tinubu that any attempt to impose Akume on them will be rejected.

The decision it was learnt did not go down well with Tinubu considering the fact that he was also pushing for the House of Representatives Minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila from the South West for the Speakership position.

Read More: Vanguard

Saraki, Akume Divide North-Central Senate Caucus

Posted on by
1

The race for the Senate President seat has divided current and newly elected senators from the North-Central. The division is over who to support between the two leading candidates for the position from the zone.

Senators Bukola Sariki and George Akume have shown interest in the post. The ambition of the two senators has divided the caucus into two camps with those in support and those against each of the candidates throwing up their advantages and disadvantages.

The split has led to some other senators from other zones to be looking outside the North-Central towards the Northeast and are said to be putting Senator Ahmad Lawan as their preferred candidate.

Read More: Vanguard

Bukola Saraki And Akume Lock Horns Over Senate Leadership

Posted on by
1

As Nigerians wait patiently for May 29 handover date, there are intense battle among APC senators over who take take over the mantle of leadership from Senate President, David Mark.

In fact, two senators from the north central zone have indicated interest in the highly revered seat.

They included former governors of Benue and Kwara States, George Akume and Bukola Saraki.

Ahead of the inauguration of a new government on May 29, under the leadership of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), a fierce battle may have begun between Senate Minority leader and former governor of Benue State, George Akume, and the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Bukola Saraki, over who occupies the exalted position of the Senate President.

This battle follows the zoning of the position of the Senate President to North Central geo-political zone of the country by the All Progressives Congress at the meeting over how to allocate top political offices to the different zones.

Although Akume has already been tipped for the position, some key party leaders are expressing their preference for Saraki. The choice of Saraki, it was gathered, was informed by the enormity of his sacrifice for the party’s success at the polls.

With the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari (North West) and Professor Yemi Osinbajo (South West), some of the top positions left to be allotted are Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and their deputies.
Other positions are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the Chief of Staff. Also, in consideration are the party’s national chairman which is presently occupied by a South- South personality while the party’s national secretary is occupied by a Northerner.

Prior to the presidential election, the party had considered the option of rewarding the North-Central with the Senate Presidency and the South East with the Speaker. The Secretary to the Federal Government or the Chief of Staff is reserved for the South-South.

However, with the presidential election over, the party leadership may no longer be disposed to the earlier arrangement as one of the National Working Committee members said that, “it would amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

The party leader from the North-East who does not want his name in print argued that: “How can the party reward the zones that worked against the party and our presidential candidate with juicy positions while the zones that delivered the party are allocated mere deputies.

I am sure the party will reward hard work.” APC in South-South returned only one Senator in Edo North while South- East returned two members of the House of Representatives from Imo State. PDP also posted massive victory in North-Central where it won states like Plateau and Nasarawa.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the party is scheduled to meet in Abuja after the Easter break to continue with the discussion on power sharing.

A large percentage of public opinion  polled have indicated preference of Saraki as the next Senate President