The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has endorsed Sen. Ali Ndume and Mr. Umar Bago, for the positions of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.
The party therefore, urged all its members-elect to vote for the two as the National Assembly is inaugurated today, Tuesday June 11.
Both are of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, but challenging the party’s anointed candidates.
Sen. Ndume from Borno is running against Sen. Ahmed Lawan from Yobe, who is the candidate of the APC, while Bago, a three-time member of the House of Representatives, from Niger, is up against Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, from Lagos, also the preferred candidate of the APC leadership.
A statement issued by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Umar Tsauri, late on Monday, said that the endorsement of the duo followed extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders ahead of the inauguration of the 9th NASS.
He said: “The final resolution on Sen. Ndume and Bago was reached at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the National Working Committee, party leaders, state governors as well as senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP.
“This decision is in the best interest of the nation in line with our party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, strict compliance with the principle of separation of powers as well as constitutional checks and balances in the polity.”
“All senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP are to be guided accordingly.”
