10th National Assembly resumes today, after its two-week break, tension awaits as the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned Senate President Godswill Akpabio against unveiling a fake list of minority leaders saying it was still consulting and yet to take a stand on the issue.
Also, there is intense lobbying among senators for the headship of nine special positions and 63 standing committees.
Meanwhile, the party’s National Working Committee, NWC met with PDP senators to stop what they described as incursions of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, into its fold to determine those who will emerge as Senate Minority Leader.
The issue is coming as tension rose following the battle for the Senate Majority Leader with some Northern Senators insisting that the North should produce the majority leader. Also, there is intense lobbying among senators for the headship of nine special, and 63 standing committees.
The Principal office positions for the ruling APC are the Majority leader; Chief Whip; Deputy Leader; and deputy Whip while the opposition parties have the Minority Leader; Minority Whip; Deputy Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Whip.
According to a statement released by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, the party said it was still consulting while warning the ruling APC to steer clear of the process leading up to the choice of leaders of the opposition in the Senate.
Ologunagba added that the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party met with members of the PDP Caucus in the Senate and at the meeting, the importance of a virile and stable opposition in the Senate and indeed the National Assembly was emphasized and the Caucus assured that it will play that important role in the defense of democracy, the interest and wellbeing of Nigerians.
Some of the Senators in attendance included: Abba Moro, Aminu Tambuwal and Abdul Ningi.a
Here is a breakdown of the battle for principal offices in Senate: immediate past Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, APC, Abia North may retain his position as Chief Whip of the Senate while the Deputy Senate Leader may cede to the North -Central geo- political zone of the country.
While those in the race for the Senate Leader are former Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South; Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, APC, Oyo North.
And in the case of the Minority leader, it is a battle of wit between the former Vice Presidential and the party’s Presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Atiku Abubakar on one hand and the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
While Atiku is pushing for former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal for Senate Minority Leader, Wike and his G- 5 Governors are said to be pushing for Senator Jarigbe Akom Jarigbe, PDP, Cross River North.
Also eyeing the position of Senate Minority Leader are former Bayelsa Governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, PDP, Bayelsa West; and former Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central.
Following his election as Senate President, Akpabio had on Wednesday, June 14 set up a 15-member Welfare Committee and announced the adjournment till July 4.
The 15- member Welfare Committee which has Senator Isah Jibrin, APC, Kogi East as Chairman, was saddled with the responsibility of the welfare of the Senators, allocation of offices and seats at the hallowed chamber in accordance with the Standing Orders and ranking.
Meanwhile, the old Chamber that has been under renovation since August 2022 is still not ready for use and the temporary chamber on the ground floor of the Senate would be used for plenary sessions.
After inauguration on June 13, the Reps elected Abbas as speaker with Benjamin Kalu as his deputy. The newly elected sat on June 14 and proceeded for Eid el-Kabir two weeks break on June 15. The break was to also enable the bureaucracy to allocate offices to the new members.
Now, offices have been made ready and allocated to the 359 members in the 360-member parliament.
