Buhari charges APC Reps to stand firm ahead of Ninth Assembly elections

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives members-elect to stand firm in the battle for the Ninth Assembly’s leadership.
The President made the plea over dinner last night at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
He stated that the members-elect must ensure unity among in the National Assembly ahead of the election of their leaders in the Ninth Assembly come June.
The party’s leadership has maintained that its candidates must lead the National Assembly.
National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu have told members that as the party with the majority, they must produce the leadership of both houses.
The party nominated Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for Senate President and Speaker.
This, however, did not go down well with former Senate Leader Ali Ndume who wants to run for Senate president despite the endorsement of the Senate Leader, Lawan, for the job.
House spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), Ahmed Wase (APC, Plateau) and Umar Bago (APC, Niger) are challenging Gbajabiamila for speaker.
Addressing the members-elect at the dinner, President Buhari urged them not to break ranks in the choice of the Assembly’s leadership.
Oshiomhole, according to Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin, presented Gbajabiamila, the House Leader, to the President as the party’s candidate.

He was also presented to members as the party’s choice.
Hon. Ahmed Wase (APC, Plateau) was said to have caused a stir as he stood up after the presentation of Gbajabiamila to express surprise, that after meeting Mr. President to step down and take over as deputy speaker, his name was not mentioned at the dinner for the position.