Senator George Akume of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) has been appointed Senate Minority Leader. His appointment was announced Tuesday by Senate President David Mark, who also unveiled the names of the other principal officers of the 7th Senate.
Mark had shortly after the Senate reconvened after a three-week recess Tuesday announced the names of the new principal officers, including Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP, Cross River), Senate Leader; Senator Bello Gwarzo (PDP, Kano), Senate Chief Whip; Senator Hosea Agboola (PDP, Oyo), Deputy Whip; Akume, Senate Minority Leader; Senator Ganiyu Solomon (ACN, Lagos), Minority Whip; Senator Ahmed Rufai (ANPP), Deputy Minority Leader; and Senator Abu Ibrahim (CPC), Deputy Minority Whip.
The position of Deputy Senate Leader, which has been zoned to the North-east by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is yet to be filled, as there appears to be no agreement yet on who should take the slot between Senators Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi) and Ali Ndume (PDP, Borno).
However, a fellow member in the Senate and former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, has protested Akume’s emergence.
In a letter to the Senate President, Ngige said the appointment of Akume, who hails from the same Benue State as Mark, negates the principle of federal character.
He said: “His choice is against the principle of federal character,” as it would mean that Benue State would be having two slots in the body of 10 principal officers in the upper legislative chamber.
Ngige had complained that the Senate had marginalised the South-east in the appointment of the principal officers and advocated that the office of Senate Minority Leader should be ceded to the region for any other senator, other than him to take.
THISDAY, however, gathered that the leadership of the Senate had told Ngige that the South-east was not neglected in the composition of the principal officers as it holds the office of deputy Senate presidency.
Although no action was taken on Ngige’s letter Tuesday, it was learnt that there was nothing the Senate leadership could do about it because, according to a source, “the selection of minority leadership is strictly the internal affair of the main minority party and whoever is put forward would just be ratified by the whole house.”
Meanwhile, the Senate standing committees will soon be announced following the constitution of the Selection Committee whose duty is to appoint chairmen and members of the various committees.
Mark had shortly after the Senate reconvened after a three-week recess Tuesday announced the names of the new principal officers, including Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP, Cross River), Senate Leader; Senator Bello Gwarzo (PDP, Kano), Senate Chief Whip; Senator Hosea Agboola (PDP, Oyo), Deputy Whip; Akume, Senate Minority Leader; Senator Ganiyu Solomon (ACN, Lagos), Minority Whip; Senator Ahmed Rufai (ANPP), Deputy Minority Leader; and Senator Abu Ibrahim (CPC), Deputy Minority Whip.
The position of Deputy Senate Leader, which has been zoned to the North-east by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is yet to be filled, as there appears to be no agreement yet on who should take the slot between Senators Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi) and Ali Ndume (PDP, Borno).
However, a fellow member in the Senate and former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, has protested Akume’s emergence.
In a letter to the Senate President, Ngige said the appointment of Akume, who hails from the same Benue State as Mark, negates the principle of federal character.
He said: “His choice is against the principle of federal character,” as it would mean that Benue State would be having two slots in the body of 10 principal officers in the upper legislative chamber.
Ngige had complained that the Senate had marginalised the South-east in the appointment of the principal officers and advocated that the office of Senate Minority Leader should be ceded to the region for any other senator, other than him to take.
THISDAY, however, gathered that the leadership of the Senate had told Ngige that the South-east was not neglected in the composition of the principal officers as it holds the office of deputy Senate presidency.
Although no action was taken on Ngige’s letter Tuesday, it was learnt that there was nothing the Senate leadership could do about it because, according to a source, “the selection of minority leadership is strictly the internal affair of the main minority party and whoever is put forward would just be ratified by the whole house.”
Meanwhile, the Senate standing committees will soon be announced following the constitution of the Selection Committee whose duty is to appoint chairmen and members of the various committees.
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