Bamidele, Ndume, and other top officials dismissed by APC

Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, has renounced the new National Assembly leadership that was announced on Tuesday by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the House of Representatives, and Godswill Akpabio, president of the Senate.

At a vital gathering of the National Working Committee and APC governors at the party secretariat, Adamu dismissed the story as a “rumor,” claiming the party has not formally announced the presiding officers.

His response follows news that Opeyemi Bamidele, a legislator from Ekiti Central, had been chosen by Akpabio to serve as the 10th Senate Majority Leader.

Deputy Majority Leader Dave Umahi of Ebonyi South, Chief Whip Ali Ndume of Borno South, and Deputy Whip Lola Ashiru of Kwara South were also named by the Senate President.

“I am just hearing as a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives. The national headquarters of the party of the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices. Until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions. So whatever announcement is done either the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat.

“We are going to formally inform you that we are going to have a caucus. For quite a time, there has been no caucus in place. The caucus has been reconstituted according to the constitution of APC. And we will be discussing that with you as governors, you know your states more than we know it. Even if we come from the same state, the leadership is in you as governors,” Adamu said.

The APC chairman went on to say that the party will release a formal statement after the formula for distributing the major offices has been decided.

The two-term governor of Nasarawa State also took use of the occasion to inform the other governors about the audit of the party’s accounts for the previous year, which the NWC plans to present before the National Executive Committee meeting in seven days.

He said, “You will get an update on the National Election in the national assembly sharing of powers particularly the leadership of the chambers. The election of the principal officers of the Senate by the Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The election of the speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives have been determined and announced and their responsibilities.

“The remaining offices to be determined by the two chambers is yet to be done. I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his deputy.

“Along with the caucus, the National Advisory Council will give you the list that has been prepared and make sure that every state is represented. And we will give you the knowledge of it and advice. You will also be given the benefits of all the detailed accounts from April 2022 to April 2023. The PCC account has been audited and it has been submitted to the INEC by the party. We will hear your advice and then see how we can ensure that we comply with the provisions of the constitution of the party.”