Kura Turnike the Senate on the Appointment of the President of the Non-Influential Dust from the fight for the position of Minority Leader...
Kura Turnike the Senate on the Appointment of the President of the Non-Influential
Dust from the fight for the position of Minority Leader covered the Senate chamber.
The dispute over who should hold the minority leader's office in the Senate led to conflicts among the senators from the opposition parties who were jockeying for the role.
APC has 59 senators in the 10th Senate, compared to PDP's 36, LP's 8, SDP's 2, NNPP's 2, YPP's 2, and APGA's 1.
The Minority Leader, Minority Deputy Leader, Minority Speaker, and Deputy Speaker are the four key roles designated for the opposing parties in the Senate.
Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, met with Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, last Thursday in an effort to persuade his allies to support him in his bid to become the Minority Leader in the Senate.\
The lengthy meeting was held in the parliament building. At around 6:30 p.m., Wike left the House without addressing the media.
Although it hasn't been confirmed, the former governor of Rivers State is rumoured to have asked his friend Kingsley Chinda to serve as the minority leader in the House of Representatives.
However, the PDP, which is the opposition party with the majority of the 36 senators, has vowed to reject any plot by the in power APC or other parties to forge alliances. and for the minority in the senate to choose its leader.
The opposition MPs also stated that they are aware of the extent of interference occurring both inside and outside the senate to split the minority parties and give them unsuitable leadership. They did, however, guarantee that the plan won't work.
The PDP's national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, told Daily Trust yesterday that Nigerians have acknowledged that the PDP and its senators will constitute a minority of leaders who will uphold the separation of powers and accountability.
"Our party is a party with structure, and we adhere to our rules," he declared. According to our democratic system, PDP is consulting its senators on the subject of minority leadership in the Senate.
"Having a majority leadership that will ensure strong opposition in the Senate and the interests of Nigerians as a whole is the most important thing for us in the party,"We'll concentrate on ensuring that the democratic procedure and the separation of powers principles are upheld. In order to have a strong opposition in the National Assembly, we will declare our position after speaking with our people and making sure that their information is consistent with the position of our party.
We'll make sure the constitution's guidelines are respected, he declared.
Since last Saturday, senators from the opposition parties have made a commitment to resist any efforts to appoint a minority leader who is unsuitable for them.
The opposition will choose its leaders following consultations with its political parties, without intervention from those who meddle in the democratic system, the members of parliament stated in a joint statement.
They emphasised that no senator has yet been chosen or confirmed as the minority leader.
Mohammed Adamu Aliero, Henry Seriake Dickson, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Abdul Ningi, Patrick Abba Moro, Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, Sumaila Kawu, and Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah all signed the declaration collectively.
She continued, "Up to this point, senators from opposition parties have been trying to undermine and sabotage the opposition in order to challenge their leaders."
To provide Nigerians with effective administration, "we commit to collaborate with the next presidents of the senate and the executive branch. As a result, we advise and point out that they shouldn't aid any organisation, whether inside or outside the Senate, in splintering the opposition.
When the senate reconvenes after its break, senators from the opposition parties will convene, and we will consult with our political organisations to choose our leaders free from influence from democratic outsiders.
"For the avoidance of doubt, due process as agreed upon by all members of the dawa in their most recent meeting, has not yet resulted in any senator being approved or elected as the minority leader.
"We call on all members of the minority political parties to work together in unity to safeguard the democratic system of the Senate and of Nigeria. It will not support any attempt to establish a dictatorship of the governing party.