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10TH NASS: APC Warns Akpabio, Abbas Against Upset
The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, has advised the party’s endorsed aspirants for the National Assembly leadership positions to be mindful of an upset during the inauguration of the 10th legislature.
Adamu, during a meeting with Senator Godswill Akpabio, endorsed for the Senate presidency and Deputy Senate Presidential aspirant, Jibrin Barau, urged them to arrive early for the inauguration on June 13.
The two favoured candidates led a delegation of 41 senators to the national secretariat in Abuja to brief the party on the progress of their consultation with other aggrieved aspirants, stakeholders and senators in the upper chamber.
Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara in 2015 shunned the party’s directive by arriving early to contest the leadership positions and they emerged as the Senate President and the House of Representative Speaker respectively.
Recalling the incident on Tuesday, Adamu warned that such a scenario must not be allowed to repeat itself, saying ‘once bitten, twice.’
He said, “But let me warn. Don’t be late. I hope I am communicating. Don’t be late. Once bitten twice shy.”
The crucial meeting, which started at about 12:55 pm, saw the delegation of 42 senators arrive at the national headquarters in two white Coaster buses.
The meeting with the NWC is coming one week after the APC micro-zoned the position of Senate president to the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the deputy Senate seat to Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation.
A member from Kaduna State, Tajudeen Abbas, was tipped for the position of the House of Representatives Speaker.
The party has also met four aggrieved Senate presidency aspirants, who threatened to revolt by disobeying the party position if the zoning formula was not reviewed.
But addressing Akpabio and his delegation of 41 senators, the APC national chairman expressed satisfaction over the level of progress their two anointed candidates for the Senate leadership has made ahead of the 10th Assembly inauguration.
He said, “We did clearly mention in the announcement that we need further and better consultation. We need to deepen consultations to carry many others along. From all you (Akpabio) just said, there is ample evidence that there has been consultation and we will not relent to ensure that, if it were possible, all senators-elect agree. Whatever we do, whatsoever signature we collect, the final decision will be on the floor of the Senate and also the House.
“All these efforts are very good and important but we are in a democracy and people are bound to have opinions and we have no right to stop them. I’m happy that we are heeding the advice and directives we gave to make consultations. I’m happy that it is very fruitful.
We shall wait till June 13 on the floor of the House. I want us to have a rancour-free election. Because even if everybody says it is Akpabio or Y or X, the rules of the game say there must be an election.
“Those who are in the Senate are aware of the rules. On the day of the proclamation the president and the clerk make the proclamation. So I do hope and pray that we will carry the day and be victorious. But let me warn you again, don’t be late. I hope I am communicating.”
Addressing journalists, an excited Akpabio disclosed that 70 senators-elect were supporting him.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, urged the NWC to call on other dissenting voices to support the position of the party.
The Senator representing Borno South district in the 9th National Assembly, Ali Ndume, also gave an assurance that the 70 senators backing the Akpabio-Barau ticket were men of integrity who can’t be induced.
In a related development, one of the aggrieved aspirants eyeing the seat of Senate President, Abdulaziz Yari, lamented that it would be unfair for the South to occupy the three arms of government in the country at the detriment of the North.
Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has shared an amusing anecdote about the unique injury treatment preferred by his Nigerian ex-teammates, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho and Ndidi became integral members of the Foxes squad after joining in 2017, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic 2021 FA Cup victory.
The duo shared a strong bond with Vardy during their time at the King Power Stadium, often engaging in light-hearted banter with their teammates.
Vardy, a Leicester City legend after 13 years with the club, departed last summer for Serie A side Cremonese. Iheanacho and Ndidi have also since moved on from the Foxes.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Vardy recounted how the Super Eagles stars had a peculiar remedy for minor injuries.
He explained that Iheanacho and Ndidi would insist on using a special “juju cream” brought back from Nigeria, refusing any other oils or balms offered by the club’s medical staff.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for one day literally, come back, and then they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said.
“That was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured areas. They used to tell us that they used to get it from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
While Vardy’s story adds a humorous, if slightly controversial, layer to the players’ time at the club, the “juju cream” was likely part of a running joke.
Ndidi later clarified on social media that the substance was simply local shea butter, known as ‘ori’ in Nigeria.
Some aspirants loyal to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the court to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body.
Report quoted sources within the party as saying the aspirants decided to seek judicial redress after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.
The aspirants have reportedly engaged the services of the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to challenge the outcome of the exercise, the report also mentioned.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The legal action has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed the Federal Government over its gifts of houses to judges.
Speaking at the Housing TV Africa on Thursday, Falana demanded the provision of the law that stipulated such a gesture.
He charged the Federal Government to also build houses for university professors and other civil and public servants, noting that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
“”We have got to a stage in the country where we have to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal.
“You treat everyone equally in our country. So you can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation by the way. They must live comfortably and we’ll secured.
“But, other citizens must be equally provided for. If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon because what is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
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