The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the leadership of the 9th Senate may be far from over as former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, insists on contesting for Senate Presidency.
Ndume, who is representing Borno South in the Senate, told newsmen in Lagos on Monday that no party leader had asked him to withdraw for anyone, adding that the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, had explained that the party only recommended Senator Ahmad Lawan as the preferred choice and had not imposed him on the senators.
He said, “We have 109 senators and each of them have one vote. If you are contesting to be the Senate President, you have to reach out. But at the beginning, I was cautious because I am a party man. So, when the party said ‘don’t go there,’ I did not.
“But the party came out again and said, ‘You can reach out to them now,’ so I reached out to them.
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“So far, the response I am getting from my colleagues from the APC and other parties is very encouraging. I am in this race to win; I am talking to everybody. I have the telephone numbers of all the 109 senators-elect and I call them.
“I have written the party, indicating my intention to contest. Even my national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, publicly said they only recommended Lawan and not that they are stopping anybody.
“As I speak with you, nobody has consulted me to say ‘don’t run for Senate President’. Everybody has the constitutional right to do that.”
The lawmaker promised to improve upon the performance of the Eighth Senate, adding that he will make the Office of the Senate President less attractive by reducing the unnecessary privileges attached to the office.
Ndume assured that, under his leadership, the senate will “work harmoniously and inter-dependently with the executive without undermining the principle of separation of power.”
Ndume, who said if given the opportunity, he would not compromise the independence of the legislature, added that his chances of becoming the next Senate President were bright.