POLITICS: Senate President: Block Votes Unlikely As PDP Senators Split
About seven days to the election of principal officers for the Ninth Senate,
there is a major disagreement in the camp of the opposition Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
The split has created a setback for the proposed block votes by the main
opposition party against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Sen. Ahmed Lawan.
Lawan looks good for the trophy, with many senators-elect, including those
of PDP, joining his campaign train.
Although the final figure was being collated last night, there were indications
that the APC candidate might garner about 62 or 63 of the 108 votes
available.
The fate of a former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is yet to
be decided by the court.
Notwithstanding, four APC senators, including Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje,
Saidu Alkali and one other.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there has been a major
split in the PDP Caucus on block votes when the Senate is inaugurated on
June 11.
It was learnt that some PDP senators-elect have opted to vote on principle
for Lawan instead of party sentiments.
Others are unhappy that a principal officer of the outgoing National
Assembly and some opposition governors decided to dictate to them on who
to vote for as the next President of the Senate and other principal officers.
The aggrieved PDP senators-elect alleged that selfish interest, rather than
“PDP’s larger common interest”, accounted for the push to vote against APC
candidates.
A ranking PDP senator-elect said: “Unlike in 2015 when we had clearly
defined agenda, the PDP has no focus this time around on the choice of
principal officers. I can assure you that the opposition will not engage in
block votes this time around.
“We have not even been given any serious directive by the party. This was
not the case in 2015.
“A few of our leaders championing block votes have been doing so to pursue
personal agenda. It is absurd to attempt to make principal offices hereditary
or to impose leaders on us.
Some of us will rather collaborate in a manner that a constructive opposition
will be in place for a greater future for PDP.
“Some PDP senators-elect have elected to have a new Senate with
enhanced agenda. They have high regards for Lawan and they will vote for
the APC candidate.”
The source claimed that some PDP senators from the Southwest,
Northcentral, Southsouth, and the Southeast will join forces with their APC
colleagues on Lawan’s project.
The source confirmed that a “former President of the Senate, who is in PDP,
has given his blessing to Lawan” in the country’s interest.
Members of the Lawan Campaign Council and strategists yesterday defied
the Sallah holidays to “take stock” of those who had signed up to back their
candidate.
Although they were still computing the tally, a member of the team said:
“More senators-elect have appended their signatures to support Lawan.
“I cannot give you the exact figure now but the situation at hand is far better
than it was in 2015. Some PDP senators are part of our campaign this time
around because of the vision inherent in it.”
Despite the fact that the final tally figure was kept under wraps, there were
indications that the APC candidate might garner about 62 or 63 out of the
108 votes available.
“We will not hide it; all the senators-elect backing Lawan will surely come
out to confirm they belong, “ another source added.
But APC senators-elect have decided to be united with the exception of four.
The four APC senators-elect opposed to Lawan’s leadership are Ali Ndume
and Danjuma Goje, who are eyeing Senate President, Alh. Saidu Alkali
( Gombe North) and one other from the North.
A source said: “So far, apart from the four APC senators, our caucus is more
united for the election of principal officers than the case four years ago.”
Lawan will tomorrow unveil his legislative agenda for the 9th Senate, The
Nation learnt.
A notice by the Chairman, Sen. Ahmad Lawan Campaign Group, Dr. Yahaya
Abdullahi, said the agenda is about “a National Assembly that works for
Nigeria”.
there is a major disagreement in the camp of the opposition Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
The split has created a setback for the proposed block votes by the main
opposition party against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Sen. Ahmed Lawan.
Lawan looks good for the trophy, with many senators-elect, including those
of PDP, joining his campaign train.
Although the final figure was being collated last night, there were indications
that the APC candidate might garner about 62 or 63 of the 108 votes
available.
The fate of a former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is yet to
be decided by the court.
Notwithstanding, four APC senators, including Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje,
Saidu Alkali and one other.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there has been a major
split in the PDP Caucus on block votes when the Senate is inaugurated on
June 11.
It was learnt that some PDP senators-elect have opted to vote on principle
for Lawan instead of party sentiments.
Others are unhappy that a principal officer of the outgoing National
Assembly and some opposition governors decided to dictate to them on who
to vote for as the next President of the Senate and other principal officers.
The aggrieved PDP senators-elect alleged that selfish interest, rather than
“PDP’s larger common interest”, accounted for the push to vote against APC
candidates.
A ranking PDP senator-elect said: “Unlike in 2015 when we had clearly
defined agenda, the PDP has no focus this time around on the choice of
principal officers. I can assure you that the opposition will not engage in
block votes this time around.
“We have not even been given any serious directive by the party. This was
not the case in 2015.
“A few of our leaders championing block votes have been doing so to pursue
personal agenda. It is absurd to attempt to make principal offices hereditary
or to impose leaders on us.
Some of us will rather collaborate in a manner that a constructive opposition
will be in place for a greater future for PDP.
“Some PDP senators-elect have elected to have a new Senate with
enhanced agenda. They have high regards for Lawan and they will vote for
the APC candidate.”
The source claimed that some PDP senators from the Southwest,
Northcentral, Southsouth, and the Southeast will join forces with their APC
colleagues on Lawan’s project.
The source confirmed that a “former President of the Senate, who is in PDP,
has given his blessing to Lawan” in the country’s interest.
Members of the Lawan Campaign Council and strategists yesterday defied
the Sallah holidays to “take stock” of those who had signed up to back their
candidate.
Although they were still computing the tally, a member of the team said:
“More senators-elect have appended their signatures to support Lawan.
“I cannot give you the exact figure now but the situation at hand is far better
than it was in 2015. Some PDP senators are part of our campaign this time
around because of the vision inherent in it.”
Despite the fact that the final tally figure was kept under wraps, there were
indications that the APC candidate might garner about 62 or 63 out of the
108 votes available.
“We will not hide it; all the senators-elect backing Lawan will surely come
out to confirm they belong, “ another source added.
But APC senators-elect have decided to be united with the exception of four.
The four APC senators-elect opposed to Lawan’s leadership are Ali Ndume
and Danjuma Goje, who are eyeing Senate President, Alh. Saidu Alkali
( Gombe North) and one other from the North.
A source said: “So far, apart from the four APC senators, our caucus is more
united for the election of principal officers than the case four years ago.”
Lawan will tomorrow unveil his legislative agenda for the 9th Senate, The
Nation learnt.
A notice by the Chairman, Sen. Ahmad Lawan Campaign Group, Dr. Yahaya
Abdullahi, said the agenda is about “a National Assembly that works for
Nigeria”.
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