‘A coronation’ – group condemns APC’s nomination for n’assembly leadership positions

A group known as the National Democratic Front (NDF) has condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the party’s nomination of presiding officers for the incoming national assembly.

The party chose Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, and Barau Jibrin, senator representing Kano north, as senate president and deputy.

For the house of representatives, the party chose Tajudeen Abass and Benjamin Kalu, current house spokesperson, as speaker and deputy.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sani Gwandu, convener of the group, expressed dismay that the north-central was excluded in the “zoning arrangement”, dismissing the party’s nomination as a “coronation”.

“The lawmakers have every right to be aggrieved as the zoning arrangement doesn’t reflect their interests and that of Nigerians,” Gwandu said.

“The election of presiding officers of the national assembly is the exclusive business of the legislators-elect and not the party – the APC intends to hijack the parliament by imposing its leaders.

“The announcement was more or less a coronation exercise that didn’t take into consideration the feelings of members-elect of either the senate or the reps.”

The ruling party’s nomination for the incoming leadership of the 10th national assembly had caused disaffection among some lawmakers who alleged that they were not consulted before the APC zoned the leadership positions in the chambers.