The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday settled for the candidature of Senator Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
The party had earlier adopted Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and Mohammed Mungunu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively.
Lawan emerged the consensus candidates at separate meetings called by the party in Abuja, yesterday, to adopt candidates for the National Assembly leadership positions.
But Senator Bukola Saraki and his supporters, who disagreed with the party’s selection process, stayed away from the exercise.
The emergence of Lawan as the party’s candidate for the Senate in the shadow election and Femi Gbajabiamila for House Representatives’ speaker underscores the u waning influence of the party’s national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who are known backers of both Lawan and Gbajabiamila.
Saraki, a frontline contender for the Senate presidency is said to be against the party’s decision to produce its candidate through a mock or primary election, insisting that the party has no constitutional power to stop him from contesting for the office of the Senate President.
Senator Lawan polled 32 out of 59 votes cast, to emerge the party’s candidate, with one invalid vote, while Akume got 31 votes, with two voided votes.The result was announced by the returning officer and National Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Mai Malla Buni.
In his acceptance speech, Lawan who said the party was exhibiting change, while hailing the party for producing sole candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives.
He adjudged the process transparent, while pledging to extend an olive branch to the Saraki group, noting that the party cannot afford a divided house.
Lawan urged the party to intervene in building the much needed unity in the party.
