APC denies Kalu, Ndume, others quest to lead 9th Senate

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly ended the quest of former Governor and Abia North Senatorial District senator-elect, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu to lead the 9th Senate.

The rekindled hope of former majority leader of the 8th senate, Ali Ndume to lead the senate was also dashed.

Ndume had on Monday, written to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, informing him of his decision to run for the office of the President of the Senate President, while Kalu who is coming to the National Assembly for the second time had through his allies and supporters been lobbying for the Senate exhualted seat.

But President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leadership of the party, this medium reliably gathered had made up their mind on whom to choose for the Senate presidency.

Sources on Monday told this medium that the President and APC leadership at the end of Monday night meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja with all the APC senators picked Senate majority leader, Ahmed Lawan.

Sources within the party on Tuesday disclosed that former Senate majority leader, was not happy with the decision of the party to choose Lawan.

Recall that Lawan, a ranking senator from Yobe state, was the preferred candidate of the APC in 2015, but Bukola Saraki, with the support of the Peoples Democratic Party senators, dribbled the party, to emerge senate president, a scenario analyst say may be replayed if APC fails to put its house in order.

In attendance at the meeting were the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, APC Senators-elect and 11 serving governors of the party.

The governors are Kebbi, Zamfara, Plateau, Jigawa, Kaduna, Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Borno, Yobe and Kogi states, while Gov Rochas Okorocha was conspicuously missing.

Also in attendance, was the Anambra South Senator-elect, Ifeanyi Ubah, who was of the Young Peoples Party (YPP).

At the meeting which lasted for about two hours, Oshiomhole announced the selection of Lawal in the presence of other Senators-elect, including other top contenders for the Senate Presidency position.

A serving legislator of the ruling party from Katsina, Senator Bello Mandiya equally confirmed that the party had picked Lawan to succeed Bukola Saraki.

He also hinted that other contenders have started lobbying for other available positions in the Senate, since the leadership of the APC have made known their stance.

Another Senator-elect, while supporting Mandiya’s earlier claim, added that President Buhari is in support of the party’s position.

The ninth assembly is expected to be inaugurated in June, this year.