Principal officers: Tinubu resolves face off between APC, National Assembly

Akinwande Soji-Ojo

President Bola Tinubu has resolved the face off between the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership and members of the party in the National Assembly over the announcements of principal officers.

A fresh crisis erupted in the ruling party on Tuesday after the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, rejected the principal officers of the party announced by both the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

Akpabio and Abbas had on Tuesday announced the principal officers of the APC, including the majority leaders, chief whips and their deputies.

But few hours after the announcements, Adamu said the list did not emanate from the party’s leadership, although APC governors under the aegis of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) endorsed the new officers.

The national chairman, who spoke during a meeting with the PGF led by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Tuesday, said he was not aware of the development.

“I am just hearing it as a rumour 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,” Adamu stated on Tuesday.

His statement generated controversy in the ruling party.

On Wednesday, Tinubu summoned Adamu and the party’s secretary, Dr Iyiola Omisore,  to the State House, Abuja, where the issue was discussed.

At the end of the meeting, there was no official statement from the presidency on the matter, but it was learnt that the president was embarrassed by the development.

Tinubu, it was gathered endorsed the actions of the Senate President and Speaker on the announcements of the principal officers.

Adamu later told newsmen on Tuesday evening that the matter had been resolved.

“We have met the president and the issues have been resolved. It’s a family affair and there were some misunderstandings. We have been able to resolve our differences.

“Those who are eager to see the continuation of the conflict, they should please sheathe their swords. We have a complete understanding now.

“The president is the leader of our great party; we met him and we are very satisfied with the discussion we had with him on the subject matter. As far as we are concerned, the issues have been laid to rest,” he said.