The meeting of national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with its National Assembly members-elect scheduled for yesterday was abruptly called off as the various camps angling for the senate presidency and speakership positions refused to agree on consensus candidates.

There was however, no official statement from the national publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on why the meeting was called off after it had taken advertorial in national dailies to publicise the event.

LEADERSHIP FRIDAY checks indicate that the International Conference Centre (ICC) venue of the meeting was as early as 10:00 am deserted as there were no signs of any activities with party members.

It was learnt that the meeting which was originally scheduled to adopt consensus candidates for the senate presidency and speaker was stood down following agitations from the Consolidation Group in the National Assembly who had risen against what it calls imposition of principal officers in the 8th National Assembly.

But it was further learnt that the party's leadership sensing rebellion had tactically retreated to see how to assuage or douse the tension of aggrieved members who are opposed to the idea of consensus, before the Tuesday inauguration of the 8th National Assembly.

Efforts to get Mohammed's reaction on why the meeting was suddenly postponed were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls put through his phone.

The issue of choice of principal officers of the 8th National Assembly has raised much dust within the party as various zones are laying claim to the positions.

Senators Ahmad Lawan (Yobe, NorthEast) and Bukola Saraki (Kwara, North Central) are top contenders for the Senate Presidency, while Hon. Femi Gbabiajamila and Hon. Yakubu Dogara are locking horns for the speakership position of the House of Representatives.