Date: 2015-04-23

The North Central caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears divided over the choice of Minority Leader, George Akume and Senator Bukola Saraki to succeed incumbent Senate President, David Mark, fresh investigation by DAILY POST has revealed that Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmad Lawan from Yobe State may displace both of them.

Speaking with DAILY POST on the said matter, a Senator who pleaded not to be mentioned said the Senators may opt for Ahmed as it can’t afford to be divided over the two contenders when the journey had barely started.

DAILY POST reports that the APC Senate caucus has been divided into two camps as some serving senators who have won their return to the chamber are rooting for Senator George Akume from Benue State, while others, particularly the newly-elected senators have thrown their weights behind Saraki who hails from Kwara State.

The source further revealed that some top ranking senators from the North central are, however, mulling the option of Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Ahmad Lawan who hails from Yobe State.

The source said, “we are beginning to consider him as our consensus candidate because some former governors, even from the North West, are also eyeing the Senate President seat.

“They are telling the party to discard the ranking rule in the Senate”.

However, another ranking Senator from a nearby state to the FCT had explained that Akume was a better candidate compared to Saraki because, “Akume is accessible and pragmatic. He is even senior to Saraki because he has been in the chamber since 2007.”

He said , “having being a principal officer for four years, he should also be considered, considering that he has the requisite experience”.

Another Senator who spoke to DAILY POST further opined that, “Senators from the North central say Saraki may not be accessible when he becomes the Senate President and secondly, he is rumoured to have eyes on the Presidency in 2019.

“We can’t trust him with that office,” he affirmed.

Looking at the option of Lawan, the Senator said, “One factor in favour of Lawan is the corruption cases hanging on the neck of some of those jostling for the Senate Presidency. Lawan has no corruption case hanging on his neck and he is even the most ranking senator from the north in the APC right now.

“If the APC considers the ranking rule strictly, Lawan has an added advantage as he has been a lawmaker since 1999. He served two terms in the House of Representatives and he will start his third term as a senator in June”.

It would be recalled that former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), senator Barnabas Gemade formally endorsed Senator George Akume for the Senate Presidency, putting to rest the rumour that he was against Akume becoming the Senate President.