June 13: We’ve enough number to win Senate Presidency -Akpabio boasts

prevail.

The APC National Working Committee, NWC, had, last week unveiled Akpabio (South-South) as Senate president; Jibrin Barau (North-West) as Deputy Senate president; Tajudeen Abass (NorthWest) as speaker; and Benjamin Kalu (South-East) as Deputy Speaker of the 10th National Assembly.

Akpabio, however, promised that the Senators-elect would collaborate with others and Governor Sanwo-Olu to ensure Lagos succeeds.

He said, “This is a stability group of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have the numbers; we have men and women of virtue across party affiliations on our side. We have come today to show ourselves to the Lagos State Governor and solicit his support to endorse Senator Akpabio and Senator Jibrin, as Senate President and deputy Senator President respectively.

“We are determined to express support for the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. We believe that his project, is a nationalistic project which will bring more goodies to Nigeria.”

In his response, Sanwo-Olu commended the Senators-elect for displaying a high sense of responsibility and threw his weight behind them.

YYF, NEPF commend Buhari for nomination Ba’ale as NEDC board chair

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

By Abubakar Yunusa

South East Unity Movement has charged President elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to take the path honour by remaining neutral and democrats in the affairs of the National assembly leadership tussle.

The group also cautioned Tinubu not to be dragged into counterproductive, selfserving conflicts over the NASS leadership.

Chairman of the South East Unity Movement,Godwish Kuruma Obi made the call in a statement shared with Journalists in Abuja, yesterday.

“We urge politicians to tread with caution and play by the rules with fairness to all sections of the country devoid of dangerous preconditions and sinister motives.

“We call on political party structures particularly the party in power to allow the three organs of government to exercise their constitutionally demarcated roles unhindered,”he said .

He also cautioned that the National Working Committee of the APC is against continuous meddling with the leadership affairs with the constitutionally and democratically independent and autonomous legislative arm of government.

The North East Progressive Forum (NEPF) and the Yobe Youth Forum (YYF) have commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni over the nomination of Barrister Bashir Bukar Ba’ale as the Chairman Board of North East Development Commission (NEDC).

NEPF, in a statement by its leader, Comrade Muhammed Hassan, explained that the nomination of Ba’ale is a landmark achievement in the history of the commission as they expressed hope of a total turnaround in the North East.

NEPF emphasized the need for urgent confirmation of Barrister Ba’ale by the Senate as the Chairman, Governing Board of the North East Development Commission.

“While wishing him the best in the new assignment, the group expressed belief that Barrister Ba’ale would justify the confidence reposed in him by President Buhari towards achieving total transformation of the North East Development Commission and new strategies and policies that will bring new hope for the people of the North East.”

They also said that the appointment of Barrister Ba’ale would bring a new lease of life to the North East, onsidering the devastating effects of insecurity in the North East.

Similarly, the YYF commended the Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni and All Progressive Congress Party (APC) for their support towards the nomination.

In a statement by the President of the YYP, Alhaji Muhammed Usman, it said Governor of Yobe State and the Chieftains of All Progressive Congress Party (APC) had made a right choice by nominating Ba’ale to the North East Development Commission, noting that his doggedness and innovation will change the narratives in the entire North East.

The forum therefore appealed to the senate to accede to the request of President Muhammadu Buhari by confirming the nomination of the board members of the North East Development Commission.

The YYP called on stakeholders in the north east to give maximum cooperation to the Board members to collectively realize the dreams and visions of developing the north east states.

Senate Presidency: Yari ignores APC zoning arrangement, intensifies campaign

By Musa Baba Adamu

Former Governor of Zamfara State and Senator - elect for Zamfara West

, Abdulaziz Yari , declared on Monday in Abuja that he is in the race for the Presidency of the 10th Senate in line with constitutional provisions and not zoning arrangement made by any political party .

Yari who stated this while fielding questions from journalists at the sideline of induction programme held for Senators and Members - elect for the 10th National Assembly at International Conference Centre (ICC) , said his aspiration is not an affront against his party , the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Working Committee of APC had in giving direction to where the leadership of the 10th National

Assembly will come from , zoned the Presidency of the Senate to South - South in person of Godswill Akpabio and Deputy President of the Senate to North West in person of Jibrin Barau.

But eight days after, Yari insisted that he is still in the race as provided for by section 50 ( 2) of the 1999 Constitution.

“My aspiration for Presidency of the 10th Senate is covered by relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution which to me , is superior to any other law or arrangement.

“I am a loyal party man, nobody has told me that any position has been zoned to anywhere as far as the 10th National Assembly is concerned.

“Position of President of the Senate , is first among equals among the 109 Senators. Any Senator - elect who wants to occupy the position, must seek for support of others which I am doing.

“It is a hire and fire arrangement. I want them to hire me as President of the 10th Senate on the day of inauguration . Many of those approached by me have given their support and I will not disappoint them.

“My becoming Senate President on the day of inauguration lies with a decision that will be made by 108 other Senators that day and nothing else”, he said.

Throwing his weight behind him, another Senator - elect from Zamfara State, Sahabi Ya’u, told journalists in a separate interview, that as far as he and many of the senatorselect on the platform of APC are concerned, the zoning made by the party was not known to them.

“I read about the zoning arrangement in the papers like other people. Nobody has discussed such a plan with us and in any case, Senators-elect are the ones to decide who they want as President or Deputy President”, he said.

Also commenting on the issue at another interview session with journalists, Senator Victor Umeh (Labour Party, Anambra Central), said Senators - elect and not party arrangement, will decide who becomes what and what on the day of inauguration.

“APC as the ruling party and the party with majority of seats in the Senate, has zoned the positions of President and Deputy President of the 10th Senate to the zones it felt deserves them , but on the day of inauguration, Senators - elect will decide the fate of those interested in the positions as provided for by relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution”, he said.

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun state, on Monday, dismissed two petitions file by two political parties, Action People’s Party (APP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) against the re-election of Dapo Abiodun, during the March 18 governorship election.

The APP had filed its petition challenging the return of Abiodun as the Governor-elect in the Ogun state governorship election held on 18 March 2023.

It, however deposed in its application for discontinuation moved this morning that “upon