Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South has disagreed with the position taken by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan should be the next Senate President.
Senator Lawan was recommended as the next Senate President by the Adams Oshiomhole-led APC national leadership to President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting with senators-elect for the 9th Assembly in Abuja on Monday night.
Lawan, a ranking lawmaker was the preferred candidate of the APC in 2015, but Senator Bukola Saraki, with the support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, outwitted the party, to clinch the position.
Ndume, a former Senate Leader, however on Tuesday in Abuja, during a media interaction, said APC senators-elect were not consulted before the decision was taken, noting that majority of the ruling party’s senators were not happy with the decision.
Ndume who has also signified interest in becoming the Senate President said he had consulted both President Buhari and APC national leader Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, who gave him the go ahead to contest for the position.
In attendance at the Monday meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari were 11 governors, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and senators-elect, of the ruling party.
The governors in attendance were those of Kebbi, Zamfara, Plateau, Jigawa, Kaduna, Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Borno, Yobe and Kogi states. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha was also in attendance.
*Photo L-R: Ndume, Lawan