BREAKING: Finally, Buhari, APC Announce Next Senate President

The politicking of who becomes the next Senate President may have finally been resolved, as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday night picked the current Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan for the position of Senate President in the incoming Ninth assembly, MouthpieceNG reports. 

The selection which came at a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari held with APC Senators-elect at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, had the majority leader as the preferred candidate 

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, outsmarted the party, to emerge senate president, a scenario analysts say may be replayed if APC fails to put its house in order. 

The meeting, MouthpieceNG earlier reported as the chairman of the party, Oshiomole announced the defection Ubah to APC, was to strategize on the zoning formula for the leadership positions in the incoming ninth assembly, particularly the upper legislative chamber.

In attendance 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 and Governor Amosun were conspicuously missing.

Also in attendance, was the Anambra South Senator-elect, Ifeanyi Ubah, who defected from 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.

MouthpieceNG correspondent at the villa reports that the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, made the announcement.

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

The ninth assembly will be inaugurated in June, this year.