NASS: APC governors back party’s zoning formula

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have urged senators and House of Representatives’ members of the party to always abide by the wish of the party.

Tension has been brewing at the Senate over filling the remaining four key leadership positions.

While the party is said to be backing Senator Ahmad Lawan from North East as the Senate majority leader, Senator George Akume from North Central as the deputy majority leader, Senator Olusola Adeyeye from South West as the Senate chief whip and Senator Abu Ibrahim from NorthWest as the deputy chief whip, some APC senators have been opposing the arrangement.

Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were elected against the wish of the party.

Governors of sixteen out of the 22 states controlled by the APC attended a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari over the issue, among others, at the State House, Abuja from Tuesday night till the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the governors insisted on the supremacy of the party’s position, stressing that they have never gone against the wish of the party as governors.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said: “Basically what we are saying is that the senators should adopt the position of the party. We were all elected on the platform of the party. We are not just a collection of individuals. We are a political party and when the party has spoken we must listen.

“Otherwise if it was a game of individuals like golf then individuals can go their ways. I think it is very clear at this point that the party has the responsibility to keep the system going.

“So we as progressive governors we have listened to the president and we have discussed extensively and we are clear that the party’s position should be supported by the senators. This is the way it should be and we should start on a note of working closely.

“We as governors, we listen to the party and we expect our senators to also listen to the party.

“We are going to call them and tell them this is it and explain our reasons. We can’t continue to allow individuals to dictate to us, it is about party supremacy,” he said.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo also told State House correspondents that the governors were worried by pockets of disagreement at the National Assembly.

He said the state chief executives had resolved to ensure that party supremacy was obeyed in the choice of principal officers of both chambers of the National Assembly.

He said the governors were elated by the steps already taken by Buhari to address myriads of problems confronting the nation but noted that in spite of that, the crisis at National Assembly was a distraction.

“We are meeting with the president because we are not happy with what is happening within our senators at the National Assembly.

“We thought we should rub minds with Mr. President and to commend him on the steps taken so far to address the issue of the economy of the nation which is totally in shambles.

“The meeting we had with Mr. President this morning is more reassuring that there is light in the tunnel.

“Despite this progress, we are worried by pockets of disagreement at the National Assembly.

“We resolved that we came from a party and our party’s views should be respected and we feel there is need to invite our senators more into the matter and see what we can do,” Okorocha said.

According to him, the situation in the legislature should not be a winner takes it all. “We should carry everyone along and accommodate others as suggested by the party.”