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Tag: 10th NASS

  • 10th NASS: Tolu Bankole congratulates Akpabio, Abbas, others

    10th NASS: Tolu Bankole congratulates Akpabio, Abbas, others

    The National Leader, Persons With Diabilities (PWDs), Hon Tolu Bankole has felicitated with  the Senate President Godwilll Akpabio, and  Speaker  House of Representatives Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, respectively on their historic victory.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Akpabio and  Abbas emerged as the Senate President and Speaker house of representatives respectively on Tuesday, following inauguration of the 10th Assembly.

    Bankole a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and also a member of the National Working Committee (NWC), of the party in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, also congratulated the Deputy Senate President,  Senator Jubrin Barau and Deputy Speaker, Rt Honourable Benjamin Kalu for being part of the team who will steer the affairs of the legislative branch for the next four years.

    “On this occasion, I also rejoice with all Nigerians for being witnesses to history.

    “We must remind ourselves on the need to remain focused on legislative agenda for the emancipation of our people. You are in the saddle as a result of people’s trust across the length and breath of Nigeria.

    “This is the moment to be circumspect, roll up your sleeves and all hands must be deployed on deck to alleviate poverty, push back insecurity, unemployment and the likes through innovative legislative actions.

    “The tenth Assembly leadership must work as a team with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration while maintaining the delicate balance of separation of powers. Your loyalty must be to Nigerians who will judge your success not by the number of bills passed but when majority of Nigerians attest to the socio-economic good arising from the laws. In other words, the good  must be seen and felt by Nigerians.

    “Your oversight functions and legislative interventions must support all policies that will make Nigerians happy, better and prosperous.  The elite must be willing to lead sacrificially to close the near infinite gap between the masses and the rich in our bid to achieve development. Money is not passport to heaven.

    “Also, all international economic policies that will make Nigerians poorer should  be jettison no matter the intention.

    “The National Assembly should expect robust engagements from Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, as we in return expect your support on all matters of inclusivity. We are better together in love.

    “I wish you well as you take over the mantle of leadership in the tenth Assembly”, Bankole said.

  • Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Eno congratulates Senate president Akpabio, ask for collaboration

    Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Eno congratulates Senate president Akpabio, ask for collaboration

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has sent congratulatory messages to the newly elected Senate president of the 10th National Assembly ,Godswill Akpabio who is also an indigene of the state.

    Pastor Eno also reiterared his readiness to work with the newly elected senate president in the country.

    .This was contained in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ekerete Udoh on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Uyo shortly after the inauguration of Senator Akpabio as the Senate President.

    Describing the election process as free, fair and credible, the governor said politics was over and now is the time for governance, appealing that all political actors work across party lines for the development of the state.

    The statement read “on behalf of the government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, I send you our hearty congratulations on your emergence as the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.

    “The process was free, fair and transparent and is a testament to the deepening of our democratic traditions and ethos. I have always said that politics is over and it’s time for governance, and that, demands we work across party lines to advance the cause of our development.

    “We stand ready to work collaboratively with you, to move the needle of development, growth and progress of our dear state in particular and the Nation in general. Once again, congratulations and God’s speed. “

  • 10th NASS: PDP warns against influencing election of leadership

    10th NASS: PDP warns against influencing election of leadership

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has cautioned against any form of intimidation as the 10th National Assembly elects its principal officers on June 13.

    Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary, in press conference on Saturday in Abuja said that members of the National Assembly should be allowed to elect their leaders freely.

    According to him, Information at his disposal of the PDP indicated that there had been attempts to harass and threaten lawmakers-elect as to their choices of leaders of the National Assembly.

    “Reports in the public space indicate plots to arrest individuals who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature.

    “The PDP notes that the independence of the legislature is a prerequisite for a virile democracy and therefore insists that members-elect in both chambers must be allowed to elect their leadership.

    “The National Assembly is the symbol of sovereignty of the people in a democracy. The people exercise such sovereignty through choices made by their representatives on the floor of the National Assembly.

    “Fundamental to this sovereignty is the choice of presiding officers which must not be appropriated by any group or individuals.

    “Such will amount to a dethronement of the sovereignty of the people,’’ Ologunagba said.

    He advised lawmakers-elect to assert their independence in the election of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “As a party, we charge the lawmakers to remain steadfast in their resolve because we are conscious that majority of them are resolved to defend the independence of the legislature.

    “We call on them to keep in mind that Nigerians expect them to assert their independence in the election of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

     

  • Speakership: How we will vote – Labour Party

    Speakership: How we will vote – Labour Party

    The Labour Party, (LP), has revealed how its members would vote during the speakership election in the green chamber.

    According to the Labour Party, members would vote en bloc in the election of the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

    Victor Ogene, the Labour Party leader in the House, said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

    Ogene said the LP had yet to decide on a particular aspirant, saying, however, that once a decision is made, it would be a bloc vote.

    Ogene said that at the end of the day, one candidate would emerge and it was going to be from the ruling APC.

    ‘’I just want to tell you that we will not be railroaded into choosing anybody; it will be a conscious decision,’’ he said.

    He said the LP members would be opposed to any undue interference or influence in choosing the Speaker, adding that they would go for a speaker that would be accountable to all members of the 10th national assembly.

    “A speaker is first and foremost a member, so the LP will do all within its power to ensure it unites behind a candidate who would not kowtow to the whims and caprices of the executive.

    “If someone is imposed from outside, it does not go well, he has lost his legitimacy from members, so he will always rush back to where he got his endorsement.”

    He said if members are allowed to choose freely, there would be a free atmosphere to operate, adding that such a speaker would be accountable to members who elected him and the citizenry.

    Asked what the LP would do if the main opposition party, the PDP decided to go with the ruling party, Ogene said the LP would stick to its position of not letting Nigerians down and unite behind a candidate.

    “People who got elected on the platform of LP did not just get elected, they got elected on a wave and a movement of the Nigerian people and they cannot afford to let the people down.

    “Nigerians are watching, yes it is an election of presiding officers of the House of Representatives where we belong, but it also concerns everybody.

    “So for LP, if the other parties are cool jumping in bed with the governing party, I can assure you that the LP will not do that even if it means standing alone, we will be ready to make that statement.”

  • 10th NASS: APC support groups stage protest over zoning arrangement

    10th NASS: APC support groups stage protest over zoning arrangement

    Forum of APC Support Groups have rejected the zoning arrangement proposed by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, for principal positions in the 10th National Assembly.

    The group made its position known during a staged protest at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Displaying different placards and banners with the inscriptions:
    “NASS leadership, we demand justice, equity and fairness, zone Senate President to the South – East,” “Obey the party constitution, adhere to the APC motto; Justice peace and Unity; zone Senate President to the South-East.”
    “Respect the legacy party agreement that produced APC”, among others.

    The national Publicity Secretary of the group Adamu Isa’ah, while addressing journalists, suggested that the party should consult widely among the state holders and especially the National Executive Committee (NEC) to be able to do the zoning in the spirit of fairness, goodwill, equity and justice.

    The group advised the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to urgently correct what it described as “lop-sidedness and imbalance decision.”

    “Consequently, we, the Forum of APC Support Groups, wishes to condemn and totally reject the so-called zoning formula of the 10th National Assembly (NASS) as dictated by the party.

    “What is more worrisome is the fact that the party in error went ahead to microzone names to specific persons.

    ” This we consider is not in the spirit of party inclusivity. We suggest that the party consults widely among the state holders and especially the National Executive Committee (NEC) to be able to do this in the spirit of fairness, goodwill, equity and justice. The party motor must be respected i.e justice, peace and unity.

    “Arising from the above, it is noteworthy to specifically state that the party must respect the principle and spirit of the letters of the legacy parties i.e ACN, APGA, ANPP, CPC and n-PDP. At every level of governance in APC since 2015, all others above except APGA faction have taken prominent positions as president, vice president, senate president, speaker of House of representatives, National Chairmen of the party, SGF etc. there is therefore an urgent need to correct this lop-sidedness and imbalance.

    “Similarly, a handful of those currently vying for the position of the Senate President of the 10th NASS came into APC only in the later days of it’s second term in office. They have not equally played any major roles in the party except to come and take over positions like nomadic politicians who come in only when food is ready. This too is not fair to those who laboured and built the party from inception to its enviable height.

    The group noted that, South-East has produced two APC Governors and six APC Senatorselect while the South-South being erroneously favoured today for the office of senate-president has had President, Vice-president, 2 National chairmen, National Secretary, Deputy senate president, SGF, etc.

    “Again, we must “make hay while the sun shines”. APC must imbibe the spirit of anti-corruption as started by former President Mohammadu Buhari.

    The forum urge President Bola Tinubu to walk the talk by fighting corruption in ernest, ensuring that those with corruption allegations and graft tendencies do not lead the 10th National Assembly including those seeking appointments.

  • Abbas hails Govs Mohammed, Fubara on emergence as PDP govs chair, vice chair

    Abbas hails Govs Mohammed, Fubara on emergence as PDP govs chair, vice chair

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the speakership position in the incoming 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas has congratulated the governors of Bauchi and Rivers States, Bala Mohammed and Siminalayi Fubara, on their emergence as the chairman and the vice chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

    Abbas said he was elated that the two leaders were elected by their colleagues to pilot the affairs of the PDP Governors Forum, which is a testament of their leadership qualities and readiness to serve the people.

    In a statement from his campaign office, the lawmaker, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, said he was convinced that the two governors would give their best in their new assignment.

    He lauded the combination of Gov. Bala Mohammed and Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, saying not only are they deserving of their new positions but they are also a perfect match for the task ahead of them.

    The speakership candidate noted with joy the contributions of the two governors to nation-building, which he urged them to sustain and work with their colleagues from the other political parties to put Nigeria first.

    While wishing them success in their assignment, Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas (PhD) called on their colleagues both in PDP and other political parties to give them the maximum support to succeed.

    Signed:

    Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas Campaign Office

  • NASS leadership: Don’t be part of a rubber stamp assembly, Atiku cautions lawmakers-elect

    NASS leadership: Don’t be part of a rubber stamp assembly, Atiku cautions lawmakers-elect

    Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has tasked National Assembly members under the platform of the PDP to hold the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government to account while performing their duties and avoid being part of a rubber stamp legislature.

    The PDP flag bearer in the last general elections disclosed this during a retreat organised for PDP members of the House of Representatives and Senators in Bauchi at the weekend, he warned the lawmakers not to be rubber-stampsfor the Tinubu government.

    “Do not be part of rubber-stamp legislative arm for those who might want to govern as dictators. Hold the government to account and in doing so, you demonstrate that you and your party are ready to govern,” he said.

    He alleged that the APC deceived Nigerians that it would be free and fair following the passage of the 2022 Electoral Act which makes provision for deployment of technology that would have made the process more transparent but proved to be otherwise.

    He assured members of the party’s support through litigations to reclaim their mandate.

  • 10th NASS: Stop referring Abbas as speaker – Adamu caution members

    10th NASS: Stop referring Abbas as speaker – Adamu caution members

    As the race for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly gathers momentum, the national chairman of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),Abdullahi Adamu, has warned members to stop referring Tajudeen Abbas as speaker until the day of proclamation

    The national chairman said this while hosting the Joint Task Group of incoming 10th National Assembly, at the APC National Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The Joint Task Group has since backed the nomination of Abbas and Kalu by the APC as preferred candidate.

    Adamu said: “I want to make one correction so that we will not be misrepresented. A quite number of you have referred to Hon. Abbas as the speaker. Please, please he is one of the aspirants. He will become a speaker on the day of proclamation.

    “The laws guiding that office are very clear, he will earned that on the day of proclamation by the president and commander in chief of the 10th National Assembly. The Clerk to the National Assembly will conduct election there is no option than the election.

    “When he comes out of that election and they raised his hand and when he is sworn in by the speaker, that nomenclature becomes most appropriate. Wait. Continue doing your good work.

    “After reporting to the National Working Committee the discussions we had with the President-elect and leaders like the Vice President-elect, the Senate President, the speaker; my humble self, my deputy north, deputy south and the National Secretary of the party.

    “I reported our deliberations. It was clear in our declaration that there is need for further and better consultations so that we can take as much as we can to message political egos, so that we end up with what we want with National Assembly leadership in both Chambers.

    “We have received all the other aspirants for the president of the Senate and the speakership of the House of Representatives. I on behalf of my colleagues wish you the best of luck.”

    Speaking earlier, Abbas pleaded with the National chairman to use the position God has given him to do whatever he can so as to call all his co-contestants to the table.

    He thanked the NWC for playing a vital role in his emergence as the anointed candidate of the party for the June 13th national assembly election.

    Abbas promised to do everything humanly possible to protect the interest of the party, to protect the interest of the government and to protect the interest of the Nigerian populace.

    He said, “I want to use this opportunity Mr. Chairman to use it to complete one item in your resume, you have conquered parliamentary, several times; you were a party man several times; you were in the executive several times; you have delivered the president-elect of our party this time around

    “What is only outstanding to complete you resume to deliver the leadership of the National Assembly July 13.

    “I want to urge you Mr. Chairman and members of the NWC that if tomorrow you have done one leg of your job,that is the endorsement of the people that will represent the party in the next dispensation.

    “The next is to come all out, to support, to encourage, to convince every member who has a vote to come and vote for you candidate come June 13.

  • Senate Presidency: Don’t judge me with my performance as Minister – Akpabio

    Senate Presidency: Don’t judge me with my performance as Minister – Akpabio

    Former Akwa Ibom  governor, Godswill Akpabio has called on Nigerians and members of the incoming 10th National Assembly not to judge him with his brief tenure as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

    The Akwa Ibom politician said that he wished to be judged with his performance as a Minister, Commissioner of six years and governor for eight years.

    He stated these in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Saturday night.

    Akpabio, Akwa Ibom North West Senator-elect, is one of the contenders for the office of the Senate President for the 10th National Assembly, scheduled for inauguration on June 6.

    “I do know that I have not changed in any way. I am somebody God has given the opportunity to be an uncommon transformer wherever I go. I will not like to be judged by ministerial appointment for Niger Delta, which everybody knows is a problematic place. But I would like to be judged by my record as a lawyer of 36 years, Commissioner of six years and a governor of eight years”, Akpabio told journalists.

    He was first elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2015 from where he became the Minority Leader on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but later defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    Akpabio resigned his position as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to contest the presidential primaries of the APC for the 2023 general elections but later stepped down for the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Though he is the preferred candidate of the President-elect and APC, a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari and the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, have vowed not to step down from the Senate Presidency race.

    He promised that if elected Senate President, Nigerians he would sustain the January-December budget cycle initiated by the 9th National Assembly.

    According to him, the introduction of the January-December budget cycle was one of the major success stories of the outgoing Assembly.

    Akpabio said, “If given the opportunity by my colleagues to lead the 10th Assembly, one of the programmes I will like to sustain would be the January to December budget cycle

    “The Introduction of that is what I commend the 9th National Assembly for very seriously because it allows for proper planning and allows the government to take off on a good note and also help bring about foreign direct investment into the country.

    “So I think that will be sustained by the 10th Senate and that is whether I am Senate President or not. I believe working with my colleagues, we shall sustain it, because it is a collective idea. Everybody is important.”

    He also explained his relationship with some of his colleagues opposing his ambition.

    The 10th National Assembly will kick start in July 2023 a month and few days after inauguration.

  • 10th NASS: Tinubu, APC under fire over zoning decision

    10th NASS: Tinubu, APC under fire over zoning decision

    As the race for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly gathers momentum, a group under the aegis of Women For Yari Movement, has advised the President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the National Working Committee (NWC), of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to withdraw it earlier decision of zoning

    Recall that the NWC of the ruling party had picked the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio (South-South), and Senator Barau Jibrin (North West) as preferred candidates of the APC for the senate president and deputy president.

    But the group in a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, said the zoning list has complicated matters in the APC, among Senators-Elect and Members-Elect of the 10th NASS and generated a huge controversy among Nigerians nationwide.

    In her address at the media briefing, Convener, Women For Yari Movement, Comrade Sofiya Ibrahim Ogoh, stated that “the Women For Yari Movement deems it fit to stage this intervention because as mothers to the incoming members of the National Assembly and indeed to all in this country, we cannot sit idly and watch our children cross swords over a totally avoidable crisis.”

    “The Women For Yari Movement notes that rather than foster national unity and heal the land after a bitterly fought 2023 General Elections, the APC zoning list has divided further the party and the country.”

    The group’s statement entitled, “10th NASS Leadership: APC, Zoning and Mothers As Metaphor” continued: “The Women For Yari Movement states that the APC National Working Committee has failed to heed a great principle of successful motherhood, to wit: A wise and true Matriarch of the House does not play favouritism among her children.

    She dishes out motherly care and affection to all her children equally. It is a deliberate and life-long act which engenders peace and harmony in the family, which then allows all members of the household, particularly the children, to live to their fullest potential in the bosom of the true Matriarch.

    “Applied in politics in the particular case of electing the leadership of the incoming 10th NASS and specifically the next Senate President, the APC National Working Committee should not have anointed a favourite among the 109 senators as Senate President and for other positions.

    To stop the crisis in its wake, the group wrote: “NASS Proclamation Day is still some weeks away. Therefore, it is not too late for the APC National Working Committee to embrace the metaphor of true mothers to stem the crisis engulfing the party over that zoning list, which upsurge, we can assure the party, would continue to rise as May 29, 2023 Presidential Inauguration Day nears for the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to take office.

    “Although the APC National Working Committee claimed that the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other critical stakeholders were consulted in the course of drawing up that zoning list, it has since emerged that this is far from the truth, and that a nascent cabal may have formed from the APC NWC and Asiwaju’s inner circle which unilaterally handpicked their friends and zoned the Senate leadership positions to them.

    “For instance, the Women For Yari Movement can inform you gentlemen of the press and indeed the whole nation that nothing worthy of being called “consultation” was carried out by the APC NWC among the candidates to lead the Senate.

    “That the APC zoning list had only snowballed the Senate leadership tussle into a giant inferno threatening to consume all in its path validates our claim. “Party Supremacy cannot be
    a pretext to serve out injustice.

    The Women called on the NWC to withdraw the zoning list and allow a free and fair contest for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly .”