Ndume
The race for the Senate presidency has assumed another dimension among members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Borno South Senatorial District, has also declared interest.
This development has introduced another twist to the ongoing politicking over the 8th Senate Presidency between two major contenders – Senator Ahmed Lawan, Yobe North Senatorial District and Bukola Saraki, Kwara Central Senatorial District.
While Saraki’s group – “Senators of Like Minds” is spearheaded by Senator-elect, Dino Melaye, Kogi West, Barnabas Gemade is leading Lawan’s group, “Unity Forum” with George Akume as his proposed Deputy.
But with the development from National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, last Tuesday, which has zoned the Senate Presidency to North East, the chances of Ahmed Lawan seems brightened thus forcing the camp of Saraki to shift ground for Mohammed Ali Ndume to assuage his interest.
According to Ali Ndume, all those criteria pushed forward by the APC NWC as conditions for Senate President were not strong enough to dissuade him from contesting for the plum job.
“For me, am very qualified to contest looking at my wealth of experience, the connections and my liberal background and even friendship that I have made with members of the media over the years.
“It is not about somebody having the most educational qualification or that he has been the most ranking Senator, and if that is the condition, then Senator David Mark should be allowed to continue”, he submitted.
He explained that he belonged to the camp that initially supported Senator Bukola Saraki, but if zoning was anything to go by, he would automatically inherit the group that has 40 senators in its kitty already.
He berated what he called the over zealousness of Ahmed Lawan, which he described as very unlikely for him to get it.
DAILY POST recalls that the APC hierarchy has been emphasising that its National Assembly leadership must not have corruption cases hunting them in any capacity.
However, the only issue against Senator Ndume was his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram, an allegation he was still battling with at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, he is believed to be highly magnanimous, thus, those who would work with him as Senate Committee Chairmen and other principal officers may have access to resources that would enable them to carry out their functions.
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