…By Larry John for TDPel Media. With the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly drawing near, some aspirants vying for key positions in the assembly’s leadership have refused to back down, despite the zoning arrangement put forth by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
In an effort to address the issues threatening the power-sharing deal, President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to hold a meeting with senators and House members today.
Contested Zoning Arrangement:
In May, the APC leadership announced the zoning of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President seats to Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Jibrin Barau, respectively.
Additionally, Tajudeen Abbas, a member-elect representing Kaduna, was chosen as Speaker, while Benjamin Kalu from the South East secured the Deputy Speaker position.
However, contenders such as Senators Abdulaziz Yari, Osita Izunaso, and Orji Kalu are unwilling to step aside for the party’s consensus candidate.
The G-7 Group and Persistent Opposition:
The seven aspirants, collectively known as the G-7, have formed a group to voice their opposition to the party’s zoning arrangement.
Their refusal to yield has prompted President Buhari to call for the meeting today in an attempt to persuade them to respect the party’s decision and step down from their ambitions.
Party Supremacy and Consensus Candidates:
The meeting aims to reinforce the importance of party unity and adherence to the party’s chosen candidates for the leadership positions in the National Assembly.
The agenda is focused on convincing the aspirants to align with the party’s directives.
Confirmation and Persistence of Major Contenders:
The camps of prominent contenders, including Kalu, Yari, and Izunaso, have confirmed their commitment to the race.
Senator Orji Kalu’s Chief Press Secretary emphasized that his principal will attend the meeting with the President as a loyal party member and maintained that talks regarding the consensus candidate from Yari’s camp are still ongoing.
Similarly, a source close to Izunaso stated that he remains determined to contest, though the outcome of today’s meeting may influence his decision.
Diverse Perspectives:
The Deputy Director-General of Yari’s campaign team expressed the belief that senators should be allowed to choose their own leader, highlighting past instances where leaders were imposed on the National Assembly.
The source emphasized the importance of granting senators the freedom to select their preferred candidate, drawing a parallel to the party’s choice of chairman.
Conclusion:
As the 10th National Assembly inauguration approaches, resistance among aspirants vying for key positions in the leadership remains, despite the APC’s zoning arrangement.
The meeting called by President Tinubu aims to address these challenges and persuade the contenders to align with the party’s consensus candidates.
However, prominent contenders have asserted their persistence in the race, indicating that the outcome of the meeting could influence their decisions.
The issue highlights the delicate balance between party directives and individual aspirations within the APC.