APC Lawmakers In Crisis As Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Steps In

Lawmakers and governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have called an emergency meeting to seek ways to resolve the lingering crisis over the choice of new leaders for the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The meeting was called by the chairman of the APC governors’ forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha which held at about 5.pm on Monday at the governors’ lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. According to sources, the meeting would seek to discuss the issues surrounding the election of a new Senate President and Speaker.

The party conducted a mock election to elect candidate for the two offices on Saturday and Mr. Ahmed Lawan from Yobe and Femi Gbajabiamila were elected as Senate President and Speaker of the House respectively.

However, the two main challengers to the posts, Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, who are also members of the party, boycotted the election and rejected its outcome.

The APC national secretary, Mai Mala Buni had on Sunday issued a statement urging Messrs. Saraki and Dogara to abide by the decision of the party.

However, attempts by the party leadership to persuade Messrs Saraki and Dogara to drop their ambitions proved futile as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has decided to wade into the matter.

One of the lawmakers loyal to Mr. Dogara confirmed that the Vice President had invited all members to a meeting, even as he said they would boycott it.

“We received text messages from the party informing us of a meeting with the Vice President today; however, we see no difference between the Vice President and those trying to impose leaders on the House of Representatives, so we would not be attending,” – he said.