Tinubu: Top APC Chieftains Reveal Plan On New Senate President, NASS Leadership

Top chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have revealed the party’s plan on matters arising about the president of the 10th National Assembly.

Naija News understands that there have been concerns from different quarters about the leadership of the national assembly since Bola Ahmed Tinubu was announced as Nigeria’s president-elect.

The candidate of the APC and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, are expected to take over leadership from President Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo in a couple of months following their victory in the just concluded February 25th presidential election.

After their swearing-in in May, Tinubu is expected to inaugurate his new cabinet and have the new leadership of the National Assembly all set for the four years job.

The names of top APC chieftains eyeing the senate presidency are Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano), Godswill Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom), Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia), Sani Musa (APC, Niger) and Dave Umahi (APC, Ebonyi).

While others reportedly contending for the speaker position include deputy speaker of the house, Ahmed Idris Wase (Plateau); chairman of House Committee on Appropriations, Muktar Aliyu Betara (Borno); House Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Kano) and Aminu Sani Jaji (Zamfara).

Zoning Of Senate Presidency Will Be Held After Guber Election

However, amid speculations, Tinubu noted on Monday that he had not anointed anyone for the senate position.

The party leadership said its focus is now on the March 18th governorship election.

A chieftain of the party, who was present at stakeholders meeting in Abuja on Monday confided in Daily Trust, saying that a meeting would be convened by the party to decide on the zoning of the presiding officers after the governorship elections.

“The party is supreme. At the appropriate time, the party in consultation with President Buhari, the president-elect, the vice president-elect and other key stakeholders will deliberate on the issues at stake and make informed decisions taking into cognisance national interest, stability of the country, equity, justice and fairness,” the source who spoke on anonymity said.

Our Zoning Formula Will Be Revealed

Meanwhile, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) had told reporters earlier that after the gubernatorial election, the party leadership will gather again, take stock of what was achieved in the build-up to the new leadership and from there, “the zoning formula the party wants to adopt will be given out.”

On his part, the incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said discussions on the leadership of the National Assembly would come up after the Saturday polls.