NDUME TACKLES OSHIOMOLE AS PDP WARNS APC FOR SENATE PRESIDENCY

The Peoples Democratic Party and its senators on Tuesday berated President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress and its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, over their position on the leadership of the ninth National Assembly.

The PDP senators, in a statement in Abuja by the Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi, and Senator Dino Melaye, asked their APC colleagues to leave the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, out of their schemes to produce the ninth Senate President.

On its part, the PDP said its elected senators and members of the House of Representatives were constitutionally eligible to lead both chambers of the National Assembly.

Statements by the opposition party and its senators were as a result of reports, which indicated that Saraki and the PDP senators planned to influence the emergence of the Senate President in the ninth National Assembly.

Also on Monday, Oshiomhole, at a meeting with members-elect of the House of Representatives, said the party must have its way in the National Assembly leadership.

All senators can aspire to be senate president—PDP senators

The PDP senators, in their statement on Tuesday, warned that the PDP lawmakers would not allow any outsider to determine the next Senate President.

The statement read, “Let it be known that no matter the mischief being sponsored by these spineless people, Dr Saraki knows that it is the duty of all senators in the ninth Senate to elect their Senate President and other leaders.

“Nobody from outside the Senate has such powers. It is also the right of every senator to aspire to that position as stated by the constitution.

“He has benefited from this practice of senators within the chambers exercising the right. He is conscious of this fact and will not be a party to any plan to seize or interfere with the process of evolving the leadership of the ninth Senate.