The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its surprise over the announcement of principal officers in the Senate and House of Representatives, stating that it was not aware of the decision.
The party, which holds the highest number of seats in the 10th National Assembly, is responsible for selecting the principal officers for the majority caucus.
On Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the appointment of Opeyemi Bamidele, the senator representing Ekiti Central, as the majority leader, while David Umahi, the lawmaker representing Ebonyi South, was named the deputy majority leader.
Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, was appointed as the chief whip, and Lola Ashiru, the senator representing Kwara South, became the deputy chief whip.
In the House of Representatives, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas revealed that Julius Ihonvbere, the lawmaker representing Owan East/Owan West of Edo, would serve as the majority leader, with Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, the legislator representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi, as the deputy majority leader.
Bello Usman Kumo, representing Akko Federal Constituency of Gombe, was named the chief whip, and Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun, became the deputy chief whip.
However, at a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) and APC governors held in Abuja on the same day, Abdullahi Adamu, the national chairman of the party, dismissed the news as a “rumor,” emphasizing that it was not a decision made by the APC leadership.
Adamu stated, “I am just hearing as a rumor now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives. The national headquarters of the party, the NWC, has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of officers.
“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 is not from this secretariat.”
The chairman further expressed the NWC’s willingness to seek counsel from the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and a newly reconstituted caucus to enhance the party’s positioning. He addressed the governors, saying, “We hope that we will be receiving some reports from the Progressive Governors Forum chairman, or his representative, to get to know about your feelings and what is going on.
“And what is your thinking on what to do to improve the chances of the party and therefore reduce the problems and bickering that we have been hearing from time to time? Then we will have time by the grace of God permitting, we will have interactions.”
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