By David Lawani, Abuja
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has warned senators seeking the principal position in the Senate not to be late to the floor so as to avoid the scenario of 2015.
He noted that the aspirants can come to the party’s secretariat late, but not to the floor of the National Assembly.
Adamu gave this admonition in a remark at the party’s national secretariat yesterday when over 40 senators led by Akpabio continued their consultation on the consensus arrangement as the senate president that is already receiving backlash from the rank and file of the APC senators.
He advised the senators to ensure and maintain a rancour-free election “because even though they say yes to Akpabio there is no way there won’t be an election as proclaimed by the Clerk of the National Assembly.”
The chairman stressed that in order to avoid the procedure, evey senator must show discipline and tactfulness.
Adamu said: “I want us to have a rancour-free election, because if everybody says yes, is Akpabio, x or y, the rules in the House is that there must be an election. Those of you who are senators know this. We will not void that procedure on the day of the proclamation by the president.
“The Clerk of the National Assembly will conduct the election. I do hope and pray that we will carry the day. But I want to warn you. Do not be late. Hope I am communicating. Don’t be late. If you are late here, don’t be late there. Once beaten, twice shy. You are advised.
“So, I am happy that this consultation is going on. And I am happy that it has been very fruitful. We wait for the 13th of June, 2023 and see what happens. I do hope that we will have a rancour-free election on the floor,” he said.
Continuing, the APC chairman noted that it is a notorious fact that there has been a response to what they did after listening to other senators led by Senator Abdulaziz Yari when he also visited the Chairman along with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who is also in the race for the senate president.
Adamu said: “And being democrats, we are doing what leadership is compelling us to do. We did in the announcement indicate very clearly that we need further and better consultation. We need to deepen our consultation.
“So that we carry as many of those who are going to decide who will become the senate president, deputy or officers or the speaker in the House of Representatives. We will give them the opportunity till the nerves are calm. There is sufficient calm in consultation.
“And from what you just said, there is evidence, ample one, that with the time given, there is more consultation. And we are seeing the outcome of this consultation. We will not relent in this effort. If it were possible we want every senator. Whatever we do and the signature that we collect, the bye product of the last action is determined on the floor of hallowed chambers of the Senate and also in the House of Representatives.
“So, all these efforts is to see how we can continue to mobilise support. But we are in a democracy. People are bound to have opinions even before yours. Last week, we listened to them. The House of Representatives team came here. We listened to them. This will promote experience, advice and directive that we gave as a party to have consultations,” he stated.
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, Akpabio said they had commenced consultation and that they felt the party’s secretariat should be the first place to call on, hence their visit to the national chairman. He assured the APC chairman that they were also talking to stakeholders of the party.
Apart from Akpabio, and his deputy designate, Jubrin Barau, was among the over 40 senators who met with the party chair under the aegis of The Stability Group to consult with the party chair, Adamu, at the national secretariat in Abuja.
They came in two coaster buses for the meeting with the NWC presided over by the National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting held behind closed doors the Director General of the Akpabio-Barau Campaign Organisation, Senator Ali Ndume disclosed that the Group was at the APC National Secretariat to thank the National Working Committee of the party for endorsing Senator Akpabio and Senator Barau to lead the 10th Senate.
Senator Ndume expressed optimism that the Group had the numbers to win the election following wide consultations with Senators across party lines.
Speaking in the same vein Senator Akpabio said he had reached out to his fellow Senators in the APC and other parties and said the majority of the Senators have signed up under the Stability Group to give their support to himself and Senator Barau as his Deputy.
He said further consultations would be held with more Senators and other critical stakeholders in the coming days.
