Not from the APC: NASS Principal Officers Announced by Akpabio and Abbas – Adamu

The list of major officers for the 10th National Assembly (NASS), which was released on Tuesday by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is not from the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat, according to Abdullahi Adamu, the party’s chairman.

This was said by Adamu on Tuesday during a meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, which was presided over by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.

I received a call from the Senate President and his Deputy on Saturday, he stated. The Speaker and his Deputy Speaker paid me a visit the following day, a Sunday, to pay my respects to Sallah.

“However, I am only currently hearing rumors in the web media that announcements have been made in the Senate and House of Representatives. The NWC (National Working Committee), the party’s national headquarters, hasn’t provided any such information or communicated about the position selection.

“And until we formally resolve and communicate with them (NASS leadership) in writing, which is the norm and practice (it is not our intention to break away from traditions), whatever announcement is made by the Speaker or Deputy Speaker, President of the Senate, or Deputy Senate President, is not from this secretariat,” the statement continued.

As for the “communication gap” between the four most senior NASS leaders and the APC, Uzodimma said the party will fix it.

Since Akpabio and Abbas are APC members, the party would engage its internal system to settle the situation, according to the governor of Imo.

Akpabio had already named Senators Opeyemi Bamidele of Ekiti State, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Ali Ndume of Borno State, and Lola Ashiru of Kwara State as the Senate’s Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip, respectively.

The identities of minority principal officers were also revealed by Akpabio.

They are Senators Darlington Nwokeocha (Abia Central – LP, Minority Whip), Oyewunmi Olarere (Osun West – PDP), Simon Davou (Plateau North – PDP, Minority Leader), and Rufai Hanga (Kano Central – NNPP, Deputy Minority Whip).

Similar to this, Abbas named Bello Kumo (APC – Gombe) as Chief Whip and Adewunmi Onanuga (APC – Ogun) as Deputy Chief Whip in addition to Julius Ihonvbere (APC – Edo) as House Majority Leader and Halims Abdullahi (APC – Kogi) as Deputy Majority Leader.