The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday rejected the principal officers of the 10th National Assembly as declared by the two presiding officers, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
In an interaction with APC Governors, the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, complained that the party leaders made no input in the appointment of the principal officers.
Adamu said he only read of the appointment of principal officers on online publications, adding that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) members at the national headquarters were yet to give any such information or be communicated about the choice of offices.
The APC national chairman declared, “And until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions. So whatever announcement is done by either the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat.”
Adamu had noted: “The election of the principal officers of the Senate by the Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The election of the speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives have been determined and announced and their responsibilities.
“The remaining offices will be determined by the two chambers is yet to be done. I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his Deputy. The following which was Sunday, I received the visit by the Speaker and his Deputy Speaker coming to me for Sallah’s homage.
“But, I am just hearing as a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives.
“The national headquarters of the party of the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices.”
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had announced Opeyemi Bamidele, Majority Leader; David Umahi, Deputy Majority Leader; Mohammed Ali Ndume, Senate Majority Whip; and Lola Ashiru, Deputy Majority Whip.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas, had also announced Julius Ihonvbere, representing Owan east/Owan West Federal Constituency, Edo State, as Majority Leader; Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro, Kogi State, Deputy Majority Leader; Bello Usman Kumo, representing Akko federal constituency, Gombe State, Chief Whip; and Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo north federal constituency, Ogun State, Deputy Chief Whip.