9th Senate Presidency: Lawan not imposed on APC senators -Abdullahi

Sen Ahmad Lawan

Senator Ahmad Lawan for 9th Senate Presidency Campaign Group, has debunked allegation of a contender for the race, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) that the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan was imposed on the All Progressives Congress, APC senators by the party leadership to vie for the number three position.

Spokesperson of the group, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC Niger North), told journalists in Abuja yesterday that Ndume lied by saying Lawan was forced on them at a meeting with the party leadership.

Ndume had on Tuesday in Abuja at a media briefing in his residence alleged that the choice of Senator Ahmed Lawan for the presidency of the 9th Senate by the national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the presidential villa on Monday night, was imposed on the APC senators-elect and not through any consensus arrangement.

He alleged that all the APC senators – elect at the dinner , were shocked with the imposition as non of them was allowed to make any comment including the endorsed Ahmed Lawan himself.

But Senator Abdullahi in his reaction to the allegation while fielding questions from senate correspondents today at the National Assembly said Ndume lied as Lawan’s choice emerged from recommendation made to that effect and widely accepted by majority of APC Senators-elect.

According to him, at the dinner attended by many of the APC governors and most of the Senators-elect on the platform of the party, the APC national chairman in a family affair tone, recommended Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position of President of the 9th Senate which was spontaneously and instantaneously applauded by the senators – elect without any dissenting voice.

“Is not good for people to peddle lies , I was at the dinner along with other APC senators-elect, the national chairman of our party , Adams Oshiomhole , never made any announcement or submission that can be described by anybody as imposition.

“He in the spirit of avoiding what happened in 2015 ,along with the presidency , gave the required direction for the party as regards the position of President of the 9th Senate by in a very persuasive and convincing tone, recommended Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position.

“The recommendation was spontaneously and instantaneously, applauded by all the APC senators-elect in attendance without anybody dissenting.

“So for Senator Ndume to later tell a story of imposition and shock to Nigerians through his media briefing , is nothing but being economical with the truth”, he said.

Though he refused to give number of senators – elect across party lines already in support of Ahmad Lawan ‘s 9th Senate presidency aspiration but he vowed that at anytime the 9th Senate will be inaugurated, Ahmed Lawan will get overwhelming votes from his colleagues for the position.

“I don’t want to give you any number but I can assure you that Insha Allah , when the 9th Senate is inaugurated , Ahmed Lawan will emerge as its President.

“What happened in 2015 , will not happen because APC as a party has learnt its lesson”, he stated.

He however added that the 9th Senate under Ahmed Lawan ‘s presidency, will carry along the PDP senators -elect in all spheres of legislative business for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians .