How Principal Officers Were Picked in a democratic process devoid of rancour – Bamidele
The principal officers of the National Assembly were picked, following consultations with “critical stakeholders” and “elected representatives” from the ruling and opposition parties, Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said yesterday.
He said that the principal officers were chosen in a transparent and democratic process, that was devoid of rancour.
However, the announcement of the principal officers at plenary on Monday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio generated ripples.
Yesterday, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu dissociated himself from the choice of Senator Bamidele as Majority Leader.
But, Niger State Governor Umar Bago disagreed with Adamu, saying that their selection, which was based on zoning, followed wide consultations in the ruling party.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership rejected the process that threw up Senators Simon Mwadkwon as Senate Minority Leader and Oyewunmi Olalere as Deputy Minority Leader.
Apart from Bamidele, Mwadkwon and Olalere, Akapabio named a former governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, as deputy Senate leader; Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South) as chief whip; Lola Ashiru (APC – Kwara South), deputy chief whip and Olarere – (PDP- Osun West), deputy minority leader.
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Other minority principal officers announced are Darlington Nwokeocha (LP – Abia Central) as (minority whip) and Rufai Hanga (NNPP – Kano Central) , deputy minority whip.
House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas aso named Prof. Julius Ihonvbare (APC, Edo) as the majority leader of the House; Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), minority leaders and Usman Kumo (APC-Gombe), chief whip.
Other principal officers named by the Speaker are Abdullahi Halims (Kogi- APC), deputy majority leader; Adewumi Onanuga (Ogun, APC), deputy majority whip; Ali Isa (Gombe- PDP), minority whip; Ali Madaki (Kano-NNPP), deputy minority leader and George Ozodinobi (Anambra- LP), deputy minority whip
