Just In : PDP Senators Reveal Zone To Produce Minority Leadership At Senate
On Wednesday, Senators affiliated with the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), convened a significant meeting at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The session, held in the office of Senator Garba Maidoki representing Kebbi South, aimed to discuss the replacement of key positions in the Senate Minority leadership.
The former Minority Whip, Senator Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North), was ousted last October following a pronouncement by the Court of Appeal. A three-member appeal panel directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election in the Plateau North Senatorial District within 90 days.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, removed the Senate Minority Chief Whip, Darlington Nwokocha, representing Abia Central under the Labour Party. Augustine Akobundu of the PDP was subsequently declared the rightful winner of the February 25 election in the senatorial district.
During the closed-door session, PDP lawmakers decided to allocate the position of Minority Leader to the North Central geo-political zone. Senators representing the zone include Abba Moro (Benue South), Peter Ndalikali (Niger South), and Mohammed Onawo (Nassarawa South). These lawmakers, expressing concern about the region being marginalized in power distribution, agreed to communicate their decision to fellow opposition lawmakers in the Senate.
The meeting had notable attendees such as Senators Aminu Tambuwal, Abdul Ningi, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Abba Morro, Aminu Dankwabbo, Francis Fadahunsi, Osita Ngwu, Ned Nwoko, Adamu Aliero, among others. Following the closed-door deliberations, Senator Maidoki spoke with journalists, explaining the rationale behind the PDP senators’ choice of the North Central for the Minority Leader position.
He said, “Everyone has agreed that the North Central should have that position for equity.
“Whether you are in PDP or APC, the Senate President is from the South-South, the Deputy Senate President is from North West, the Senate Leader is from South West, the Chief Whip is from North East. So, the only zone where you do not have a leadership position is North Central, after the exit of the last Minority Leader.
“We have all agreed that the North Central should have it for equity. Even though the highest number of PDP senators are from the North West, we are on the same page, we are unanimous, and we have agreed to those who want the same position we have persuaded. This was just driven by equity for every zone. In any case, it is only a position of trust, he has only one vote when it comes to voting, and the Senate President has only one vote. ”
Senator Maidoki who disclosed that there would be no micro-zoning to any individual said the President of the Senate was aware of the meeting of the PDP lawmakers.
“We don’t want to make the same mistake we made the last time, we refused to take a position on time and some people took the decision for us.
“Hence we had to hold this emergency meeting when we realised that a vacuum existed in the minority leadership, and in the past weeks, nothing had been done, so we had to move quickly.
“The Senate President was here this morning and we assured him that it was a PDP affair and we want to make sure we chose our leader who can contribute robustly to debates in the Senate.
“It’s not about change or overturning anyone, it’s about the leadership vacuum in the minority and we don’t want anyone to choose for us.”
