The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has disowned the list of principal officers announced by the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The leadership of both Chambers of the National Assembly, on Tuesday, announced the list of principal officers.
Reacting to the development, Adamu, at a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and Progressives Governors’ Forum in Abuja, said the National Assembly breached protocol by announcing the principal officers without the knowledge of the party.
In the list of principal officers announced at the Red Chamber on Tuesday, by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Opeyemi Bamidele, emerged Majority Leader.
Akpabio also announced Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District as the Senate Chief Whip.
Senators Dave Umahi and Lola Ashiru, representing Ebonyi South and Kwara South Senatorial Districts, respectively, were named Deputy Senate Leader and Deputy Chief Whip by Akpabio.
Others announced by Akpabio from the Minority Caucus were Simon Mwadkon (PDP, Senate Minority Leader), Oyewumi Olalere (PDP, Senate Deputy Minority Leader), Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Senate Minority Whip) and Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Senate Deputy Minority Whip)
Akpabio said the new principal officers emerged through consensus.
Also at the Green Chamber, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the lawmaker representing Owan Federal constituency of Edo State, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, as Majority Leader.
The Speaker also announced other Principal Officers including Halims Abdullahi (APC – Kogi, Deputy Majority Leader), Bello Kumo (APC – Gombe, Chief Whip), and Adewunmi Onanuga (APC – Ogun, Deputy Chief Whip).
Abbas also read a letter from the Minority Caucus, which detailed the names of the principal officers.
The letter named Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Minority Leader), Aliya Madaki (NNPP, Deputy Minority Leader), Ali Isah (PDP, Minority Whip), and George Ebizimawo (Labour Party, Deputy Minority Whip).