Saraki shuns mock election for senate president

 All Progressives Congress’ (APC) senators-elect from Bukola Saraki’s group have boycotted the party’s straw poll for senate president.

The party earlier held a similar election for the speaker of the house of representatives.

Femi Gbajabiamila‎ (Surulere Lagos) emerged APC’s sole candidate for speaker of the house after polling 154 votes to defeat his only challenger, Yakubu Dogara, who got only three votes after his camp staged a walkout.

TheCable had on Friday reported that the party was divided along “interest lines” regarding the leadership of the national assembly.

The two APC senators vying for‎ the top position of the upper chamber are Ahmed Lawan (Yobe north) and Saraki (Kwara central).

According to‎ a source, Lawan’s camp, “Senate Unity Forum”; Saraki’s camp, “Like-minded senators”; and the party leadership could not reach an agreement on the system of voting.

TheCable understands that Saraki’s group‎ wanted a secret ballot system, but Lawan’s group did not want that, hence the decision of the former to shun the election.

‎”We are most likely not going to attend. They have refused to to conduct the election in a secret ballot following the constitution,” the source said.

Lawan and his group of 35 senators arrived about 9:15pm, but Saraki and his group did not show up at the venue, which is the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Some of the APC senators-elect seen at venue were Remi Tinubu,‎ Rabiu Kwankwaso, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Shehu Sani, Olusola Adeyeye and Kabir Garba Marafa.