An effort to resolve the leadership tussle in Nigeria’s National Assembly involving lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress witnessed a setback, as Senator Saraki and some other lawmakers refused to show up at a meeting called by the party’s leaders.
The infighting started after some lawmakers walked out of a mock election held to choose the party’s candidate for the leadership of the Senate and that of the House of Representative.
Senator Saraki is vying for the Senate presidency, but Senator Ahmed Lawan was chosen in the mock election that was spearheaded by members of the National Working Committee of the ruling party.
At the end of Monday’s meeting, the APC leadership asked aggrieved members in the incoming Eight Assembly to sheathe their swords and work together for the party’s official candidates when nominations are called on Tuesday.
The party in a statement by the party’s spokesman, Honourable Mai Mala Buni, urged its members to put the interest of the APC above personal interests and avoid a situation where any other candidate, apart from those picked by the party, would emerge as the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representative on Tuesday.
Mr Buni further expressed optimism that any outstanding issues would be resolved by the party, but advised that members should not go into Tuesday’s election with more than one candidate each for the two posts.
“It would be a shame if, despite its majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, the APC is unable to produce a Senate President and a house speaker of its choice,” he said.
The party’s scribe then appealed to all aggrieved members to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign, in the overall interest of not just the party but the entire nation.
