The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says its leadership and elected federal legislators have not taken any official position on who to support for the position of presiding officers of both the Senate and the House of Representatives adding that the party is consulting.
The 9th Senate which is scheduled for inauguration in June has many ranking lawmakers jostling for the position of senate president and speaker House of Representatives.
Major contenders for the president of the senate are Majority leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan (APC), former governor of Gombe, Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC) and former majority leader, Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume (APC). While that of the speaker House of Representatives are house majority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila and Hon. Muhammed Umaru Bago both of APC.
PDP in statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan Sunday debunked media report which suggested that its members-elect in the House of Representatives have settled for a particular aspirant as the new Speaker.
Ologbondiyan stated that, “The PDP is still consulting with its members-elect and no official position has been taken on the issue, particularly as the positions of presiding officers are not exclusive preserve of the ruling party or any other party for that matter, but a constitutional right of every elected lawmaker in their respective chambers.
Continuing, the statement reads “Moreover, the PDP has an array of elected lawmakers, in both chambers, who are eminently qualified and equally popular among their colleagues, across the divide, to hold office as presiding officers of both chambers of the National Assembly, in line with Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“What is important to Nigerians is the emergence of a purposeful leadership that will ensure accountability and good governance in the polity.
“The PDP, as a party committed to the wellbeing of our nation, will remain focused in our determination to rescue our nation from incompetent system and therefore urges Nigerians to discountenance such reports suggesting that our lawmakers have settled for a particular aspirant for any presiding office in the National Assembly”.
