Sen Abaribe Speaks On Who PDP Endorsed For Senate Presidency

Race For 9th NASS Leadership Continues

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the South East Caucus in the Senate has revealed the current position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on who becomes president of the ninth Senate.

According to Abaribe, while speaking with newsmen yesterday, he said the PDP senators-elect were yet to meet over the issue.

He said; “PDP Senators elect are yet to meet as most of them are in their states for the inauguration of their governors”.

As previously reported by Naija News, the two major candidates, Ali Ndume and Ahmad Lawan, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have recruited top members of the opposition PDP to lead their campaigns.

Lawan, at the weekend, further expressed optimism that the PDP senators-elect would endorse him.

The inauguration of the 9th National Assembly is less than two weeks away, Naija News reports.

Meanwhile, there are strong indications that Abdullahi Goje may have opted out of the race for the Senate top seat.

A former governor from the north, as reported by aledeh.com, told newsmen that since the return of Goje from the lesser hajj, he has been silent about his ambition for Senate Presidency and has even told some of his close associates that he is no longer interested in the seat.

He said; “Our understanding with Senator Goje before going to the lesser hajj is that when he is back from Ummra and after consultations with some officials of the President Mohammadu Buhari’s government that he will commence a full scale campaigns for his ambition, but he has returned more than a week ago and kept mute about his aspiration.

“He has even told some of us that he is not interested in becoming the next Senate president.

“So, with his inability to commence campaigns for the office and bearing in mind that we only have Monday, Thursday and Friday as working days before the inauguration on Tuesday, it is evidently clear that he is no longer interested in the Senate President election.

“In view of this, the election for who becomes the next senate president is between Senators Ahmed lawan and Ali Ndume.”