Despite directives from APC’s party leadership that Ahmed Lawan and George Akume be made senate leader and deputy respectively,Senate President Bukola Saraki has disregarded the directive and has announced Sen.Ali Ndume, from Borno State, as Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Na’alla as deputy leader.
The Senate also nominated Francis Alimikhena, from Edo State, as Deputy Chief Whip.
Saraki announced that he has received communication from both North East and North West caucuses nominating Ndume and Na’Allah to occupy the two positions.
Immediately after the announcements, Ndume and Na’Allah took the seats reserved for the leader and deputy.
However, Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara) stood up after the announcements to oppose the nominations.He challenged Saraki that since their rules provide in Order 28 that it is the party with majority that will nominate the persons to occupy those positions, the Senate president did not have powers to recognize any nomination by a caucus.
But Sen Danjuma Goje came under the same point of order, arguing that nomination from caucuses has been the practice since 1999.
