Senate presidency: Lawan defies Oshiomhole, meets PDP govs, senators

The Senate Majority Leader and All Progressives Congress
candidate for the Senate presidency in the 9th National Assembly,
Ahmed Lawan, has reached out to some Peoples Democratic Party
governors to brighten his chances of winning the number three
position.

This is contrary to the ruling party’s earlier position that it
would not need the PDP for its candidate to emerge winner in the
race.

Lawan’s adoption by the ruling party’s National Working
Committee has divided the party, with Senators Ali Ndume (Borno)
and Danjuma Goje (Gombe) insisting on contesting the post despite
the APC’s position.

The National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, had shortly
after the NWC’s adoption of Lawan, said the ruling party did not
need the PDP lawmakers’ votes to clinch leadership seats in the
National Assembly.

He cautioned against any power sharing deal with the opposition
party.

The APC said all committees in the Senate would be chaired by
the APC senators.

But Lawan met with three PDP governors during the week to seek
their support.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that he met separately with Governor Aminu
Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State
as well as Imo State governor-elect Emeka Ihedioha in Abuja where
he sought their support for his Senate presidency bid.

A source, who was part of his meeting with Tambuwal on
Wednesday, claimed Lawan complained about Oshiomhole’s comments on
the PDP, which he said had adversely affected his chances of
winning the support of some returning PDP senators-elect.

It is however not clear whether the Yobe lawmaker made any
commitment to a power-sharing deal with the PDP.

“It was just to reassure PDP stakeholders of his readiness to
work and cooperate with them, nothing more,” the source said.

Spokesman for the Lawan-for-Senate President Campaign
Organisation, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, confirmed to one of our
correspondents that the Senate Leader met with some governors.

Abdullahi, who is also the spokesperson for the Senate,
described the meetings with the governors as “successful”.

However, he did not give details of the meeting or disclose the
identities of the governors that Lawan met with.

He said, “We have spoken to many governors, including Kashim
Shettima (of Borno State) when he visited Lawan’s campaign
secretariat .

“Many of the governors we spoke to were pleased with our agenda
for the 9th Senate and they all pledged their support.”

Abdullahi at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday said Lawan
would carry along all PDP senators if elected.

Abdullahi had said, “l want Nigerians to look at those of us who
are the actors and take note of what we say. That is the most
important thing. I want to submit and assure Nigerians that by the
special grace of God, if Senator Ahmed Lawan gets there, he will
run an all-inclusive government because the Senate is the Senate of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The notion that the PDP would be excluded should be withdrawn
forthwith. What we are planning to do is to have a Senate that will
be for all senators.”

According to him, many opposition senators pledged their support
and promised to vote for Lawan as they are convinced he will not
sideline them.

He said, “I can confirm to you that on the day of inauguration
Lawan will garner more than two-thirds majority support from
members-elect from both APC and PDP.

“We are talking to our colleagues; we are working on the people
who will vote on the day of inauguration.”

But spokesman for Ihedioha, Chibuike Onyeukuwu, denied any
meeting between his principal and Lawan.

Both Tambuwal and Okowa could not be reached for comments as of
press time. But the PDP on Friday said it had yet to decide whether
its governors would support Lawan.

The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Diran Odeyemi,
told one of our correspondents on Friday that the party still had
some months of consultations before it would take a stand.

He said, “The PDP definitely has its own joker, and as a
responsible party, will look at all options.

“We still have a few months of horse-trading and consultations
to weigh our options and adopt the best democratic practice.

“This is politics and the party will definitely take a stand at
the appropriate time.”