The All Progressivea Congress (APC) said one of the reasons it preferred Senator Ahmed Lawan as the next Senate President is his ability to carry everyone along, adding that reaching out to members of the opposition party for support is within the prism which the party is not oppose to.
The ruling party also declared that it will soon make public the zone expected to produce the next Speaker.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Sunday the party said democracy recognises the importance of the opposition, “especially when you do not have two-third which would be required at some very critical situations. For us as a ruling party, we understand that a stable and peaceful National Assembly would enhance our capacity to deliver more for the people of Nigeria.
“So the party is not averse to negotiation by Senator Ahmed Lawan and our other Senators-elect working to fulfil the position taken by our party.
“We are inundated with reports of our members in the National Assembly holding consultations with members of the opposition over the election of leaders into the 9th National Assembly. Let me state that our party has no objection to such consultations. It is a normal democratic practice world over to stretch hands across the divides. And contrary to some media reports, the actions of our members do not contradict the party’s position. APC has comfortable majority in both chambers, therefore; we have the number to produce the leadership.”
On the reason the party prefer Sen. Lawan, he said: “It is important to note that one of the key considerations for adopting him as the party’s candidate for the Senate Presidency is his ability to carry everyone along. On top of that, the party has confidence in him not to compromise the progressive ideology of APC. So clearly, Senator Ahmed Lawan is capable of conducting his negotiations within the prism of APC’s objectives.”
On the zoning and the leadership of House of Representatives, the party assured that it will soon release the zoning arrangement to the public.
“Our party will soon release the zoning arrangements for the principal positions of the incoming 9th National Assembly.
“The party will also make its position clear in the coming days on the principal positions in the House of Representatives.”
