APC National Chairman Adamu Rejects Akpabio’s Senate Principal Officers List 

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, says the list of principal officers for the 10th National Assembly (NASS) announced on Tuesday by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas is not from the party’s secretariat.

Adamu, in an emergency meeting of the APC’s governors forum and the party’s national working committee, said Senator Akpabio breached protocol by announcing the names without knowledge of the party’s leadership.

“I am just hearing as a rumour now 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 yet to give any such information or communicate about the choice of officers.

“And until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing, which is the norm and practice, we do not intend to break away from traditions. So whatever announcement is done is not from this secretariat,” Adamu said.

As the first item on Tuesday’s proceeding, Akpabio read out names of individuals who will occupy major seats in the 10th Senate.

The names include Ekiti Central’s Opeyemi Bamidele as majority leader, Ali Ndume (Borno South) as chief whip, Ebonyi South’s Dave Umahi and Kwara South’s Lola Ashiru as deputy leader and chief whip, respectively.

Meanwhile, Uzodimma said the party will address the “communication gap” between the four most senior NASS leaders and the APC.

The Imo governor said being that Akpabio and Abbas are members of the APC, the party will activate its internal mechanism to resolve the matter.

Earlier, Akpabio announced Senator Opeyemi Bamidele from Ekiti State as Senate Leader, Senator Dave Umahi from Ebonyi State as Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume from Borno State as Chief Whip, and Senator Lola Ashiru from Kwara State as Deputy Chief Whip.