APC disowns n’assembly principal officers announced by Akpabio, Abbas

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it was not aware of the principal officers of the party announced in the senate and house of representatives on Tuesday.

The ruling party has the highest number of seats in the 10th national assembly and is meant to produce principal officers for the majority caucus.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio had announced Opeyemi Bamidele, senator representing Ekiti central, as majority leader, and David Umahi, lawmaker representing Ebonyi south, as the deputy majority leader.

While Ali Ndume, representing Borno south, was named as chief whip, Lola Ashiru, senator representing Kwara south, became deputy chief whip.

In the house, Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker, unveiled Julius Ihonvbere, lawmaker representing Owan east/Owan west of Edo as the majority leader; and Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, legislator representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi, as the deputy majority leader.

The speaker also named Bello Usman Kumo, representing Akko federal constituency of Gombe as the chief whip; and Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo north federal constituency in Ogun, as the deputy chief whip.

However, speaking at a meeting of the national working committee (NWC) and APC governors in Abuja on Tuesday, Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the party, described the news as a “rumour” and said it was not a decision of the APC leadership.

“I am just hearing as a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the senate and house of representatives,” Adamu said.

“The national headquarters of the party, the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of officers.

“And until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions.

“So, whatever announcement is done is not from this secretariat.”

The chairman said the NWC is ready to take counsel from the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and a newly reconstituted caucus to better position the party.

“We hope that we will be receiving some reports from the Progressive Governors Forum chairman, or his representative, to get to know about your feelings and what is going on,” Adamu said.

“And what is your thinking on what to do to improve the chances of the party and therefore reduce the problems and bickering that we have been hearing from time to time?

“Then we will have time by the grace of God permitting, we will have interactions.”