The former senator that represented Anambra Central in the National Assembly, Senator Annie Okonkwo has said that the just concluded election for the leaders of National Assembly (NASS) is an indication of anomaly. “The situation where APC has the majority and cannot control the NASS is not good for the government”, he said.
The NASS has just had election to select leaders for the two houses. The All Progressive Alliance (APC) produced the senate president in the person of Senator Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State. Unusually, the immediate past deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was reelected as the deputy senate president. Another departure from the norm is the election of the immediate past senate president, also of PDP was elected as the senate leader.
On the other hand, the lower chamber, the House of Representative defied APC arrangement to elect Yakubu Dogara as the speaker of House of Representative. Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Lasun was elected as the deputy speaker.
Saraki, a former Kwara State governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, emerged unopposed shortly after the Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, proclaimed the eighth Senate into existence.
In the Senate, the major battle for the position of Senate President was between Ahmed lawan (Yobe North) and Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central),who emerged unopposed shortly after the Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, proclaimed the eighth Senate into existence.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples’ Democratic Party defeated Sen. Ali Ndume of the ruling party to become Saraki’s deputy.
Mr. Lawan was the preferred candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, while Mr. Saraki had the support of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In the House of Representatives, it was also a direct battle between Femi Gbajabiamila (Surelere, Lagos) and Yakubu Dogora (Tafawa Balewa/ Bogoro, Bauchi).
Hon. Gbajabiamila was adopted by the APC as well, while PDP directed its members to vote Hon. Dogara into office. Eventually Hon. Dogara defeated the former Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, in a keenly contested poll.
Commenting further on the latest development, Sen. Okonkwo said Nigerians will see better NASS. “It is not going to be business as usual. Nigerians want to see leaders that will cater for the people and not for their personal interest. There is going to be discipline in the National Assembly, he concluded.
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