‘It’s just a rumour’- APC distances self from appointments of principal officers in Senate, Reps

The national leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the appointment of principal officers announced earlier by the the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon.Tajudeen Abbas.

In a letter read at plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio named Senators Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) as Majority Leader; Ali Ndume (Borno South) Chief Whip; David Umahi (Ebonyi South) Deputy Leader; and Lola Ashiru (Kwara Central) Deputy Whip.

Abbas also announced Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (Edo) as Majority Leader; Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims (Kogi) Deputy Majority Leader; Hon. Usman Bello Kumo (Gombe) Chief Whip and Hon. Adewumi Onanuga (Ogun) Deputy Majority Whip.

But speaking during an interactive meeting with the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) at the party’s national secretariat on Tuesday, the APC National Chairman, Sen Abdullahi Adamu, said the NWC was not aware of the announcement made in the National Assembly by the Senate President and the Speaker

“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, the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of officers.

“And 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 is not from this secretariat,” Adamu said

On the agenda for the meeting, the national chairman said: “We are going to formally inform you that we are going to have a caucus, and 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 on you as governors.

“We will hear your advice and then see how we can ensure that we comply with the provisions of the constitution of the party.

“We hope that we will be receiving some reports from the Progressive Governors Forum, NGF, Chairman, or his representative, to get to know about your feelings and what is going on.

“And what is your thinking on what to do to improve the chances of the party and therefore reduce the problems and bickering that we have been hearing from time to time. Then we will have time, God permitting, we will have interactions.

“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,” he added.