9th Assembly Speakership: North-Central aspirants defy APC
•As govs, N-PDP camps flex muscles over Senate Presidency, Speaker •President has not endorsed any candidate—Ndume camp
The unfolding intrigues and gerrymandering in the race for the Senate Presidency and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which appear to have deepened, are already raising fears of fresh crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).Indications to this came to the fore at the weekend following the emergence of some new power caucuses ahead of the inauguration of the ninth Assembly.
Whereas the APC has endorsed Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan as president of the incoming Senate and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila as the speaker of that Assembly, interest groups within the incoming Assembly have continued to challenge the decision.
The North-Central is battling to snatch the Speakership position from the South-West, with claims that the zone should not be left empty since the South-West has produced the vice-president.
But one of the most enduring political camps, the camp of governors elected into the incoming Senate, emerged on the stage last week, with intent to make their voice heard in the race for the next Senate President.
Sources said that the camp of 16 governors who would be sworn in as members in the next Assembly not only has an agenda but also “believes that one of their own should emerge either as Senate President or Deputy Senate President in the incoming Assembly.”
Tribune
