The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday met with senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Vice President-Elect, Kashim Shettima; APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu; APC National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), were among those in attendance.

According to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the inaugural parley at the behest of the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, was convened to exchange hand shakes over the recently concluded elections and charge members to remain focused ahead of the upcoming governorship elections on March 18.

Speaking to correspondents after the closed-door meeting, the Speaker underscored that the meeting was not hinged on the issue of zoning of presiding officers, but on the party’s victory at the polls.

The President-Elect was not at the meeting and no explanation was given for his absence.

The party had in an invitation over the weekend urged guests to come along with the Certificates of Return issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after they were declared winners.

“This is to inform all Senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that they are invited to a parley with the party’s national leadership,” the invitation had read.

A source had told Channels Television that the APC is trying to avoid a situation that played out in 2015 where Senator Bukola Saraki emerged as Senate President against the party’s wish.

Saraki, who represented Kwara Central Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly, emerged as Senate President when 51 APC senators were at the International Conference Centre waiting for a truce meeting reportedly called by the leadership of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was elected unanimously by 57 senators present at the session and sworn into office on June 9, 2015.