APC Governors React As Adamu Disowns NASS Principal Officers

The governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reacted to the rejection of the principal officers of the National Assembly by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Recall that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, had named the principal officers of both the Red and Green Chambers.

But the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, dismissed the selection of the new leadership of the National Assembly announced by Akpabio and Abbas.

Speaking at a meeting with the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) led by Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Adamu said the party was not officially informed about the selection of the principal officers, describing the report as a rumour.

Reacting to Adamu’s rejection in a chat with reporters on Tuesday, Uzodinma said the APC chairman never said Akpabio and Abass singlehandedly picked the principal officers.

The Imo governor attributed the tussle between the leadership of the party and the National Assembly presiding officers to a communication gap, stressing that both sides enjoy the support of the Progressive Governors’ Forum.

Uzodinma has pledged that the governors will intervene in the conflict between the APC NWC and the presiding leaders of the National Assembly with the aid of the party’s internal mechanism.

He said: “Don’t let us misquote him. The chairman never said that they (Akpabio and Abbas) are on their own. The National Assembly leadership belongs to our great party, and they enjoy our support.

“If there is a communication gap anywhere, we will make it up. We have our internal mechanism for resolving such things. The National Assembly leadership enjoys the support of the Progressives Governors Forum and of our party. We don’t have any problem at all.

“We congratulated ourselves in the way and manner the leadership of the National Assembly election was conducted. We now have a Senate President, his Deputy Senate President, Speaker, and his deputy who we are very confident will do well.”

Uzodinma also debunked the growing report that Adamu has handed the audited account of the APC for scrutiny ahead of the National Caucus meeting slated for July 10.

“In the course of the conversation, the chairman did mention that in keeping with the Electoral Act, they (NWC) are working on having an audited account that will be presented at the national caucus meeting. It was just mentioned. It has not been presented,” he added.