APC Crisis Deepens as Youth Forum Rejects Lawan

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the election of a Senate President has taken a turn for the worse as some members of the party yesterday rejected the alleged adoption Senator Ahmed Lawan as consensus candidate.

A statement signed by APC Youth Forum PRO, Olu Onemola said Lawan who is from the North-east cannot be adopted as party’s consensus candidate after the national working committee (NWC) of the party zoned the Senate Presidency to the North-central where Senator Bukola Saraki comes from.

According to the group, “We are happy to see that 35 Senators-elect immediately rejected the alleged adoption of Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate. The business of electing the President of the Senate is vested in the hands of the lawmakers. So, for our party to continue to shine, we must be transparent in all our dealings.”

The group also frowned on the news of Senator George Akume stepping down for Lawan to contest as Deputy Senate President, saying that it was an attempt to scuttle the primary that is meant to happen after seeing that Saraki has a large lead over Lawan and Akume.

“The issue of National Assembly leadership is beyond personal interest. It is about competence and leadership skills. Senator Bukola Saraki has the ability to stabilise the legislative institution, working with the executive and judicial arm of government to achieve the expected goals”.

Of the 59 senators-elect of the APC, the group said 35 endorsed the candidature of Saraki, because he is seen as the most competent person among the contenders.

However, if no consensus is reached by the party, it will be an open contest upon the inauguration of the senate in the first week of June and Saraki or Lawan needs a minimum of 55 votes to win, which is a simple majority of 109 senators.