The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has formally adopted Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege for the position of Deputy Senate President of the 9th National Assembly.
Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the NWC held in Abuja. Issa-Onilu said that the meeting also endorsed Malam Muhammed Wase as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He added that the decision was taken after consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari, party stakeholders, and APC State Governors. APC had earlier announced Senators Ahmed Lawan and Mr Femi Gbajabiamila as its candidates for the positions of Senate President and Speaker of House Representatives.
“All elected APC members in the Senate and House of Representatives are hereby directed to fully mobilise as a united force behind the party’s choice. “Members who have earlier signified interests in these positions are urged to support the party’s decisions as loyal and committed members,”Issa-Onilu said.
He added that such party members should work with other members to ensure the emergence of the adopted candidates. The APC spokesman said details of other positions in the two chambers would be made public in due course. Omo-Agege, a lawyer from Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA) represents Delta Central District in the Senate.
Governors elected on APC platform arising from a meeting on Sunday night in Abuja, announced their support for the party’s choice of candidates for principal offices in the incoming 9th National Assembly. The governors under the aegis of the Progressives Governors Forum, took the decision at a closed door meeting held at the Kebbi Governor’s Lodge.
Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Chairman of the forum while briefing newsmen at the end of meeting, said the governors took the decision in compliance with the directive of the party’s national leadership. Buhari had proclaimed that the 9th National Assembly should hold its first session on Tuesday June 11 after its inauguration.
