Saraki rubbishes APC, names Ndume senate leader

Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki during plenary on Thursday named Senator Ali Ndume as Senate Leader and Bala Ibn Na’Allah as Senate Deputy Leader, rubbishing his party, the All Progressives Congress.

The Senator Ahmed Lawan-led faction objected the reading of the list by Saraki but their efforts were not enough.

Senator Kabiru Marafa who raised a point of order was ruled out of order by the Senate president.

The announcements of the new officers will further widen the gulf between Saraki and the leadership of All Progressives Congress.

The party after Saraki’s coup on 9 June had sent a letter to Saraki, listing the party’s nominees for the various posts.

In a letter by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, national chairman of APC, he said: “Please find below for your necessary action names of principal officers approved by the party, after excessive consultations for the 8th Senate as follows: Senator Ahmed Lawan (Majority Leader)–North-East; Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip)–South-West; Sen. George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader)—North-Central; and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip)—North-West.”

Both men had been favoured by the party to take the positions of Senate President and deputy senate president.

But Saraki on 9 June not only defiantly snatched the senate presidency, but also gave the deputy position to PDP senator Ike Ekweremadu, provoking an unbridled rage of party leaders.