PDP confident of repeat of Saraki, Dograra as it endorses Ali Ndume, Umar Bago

It is now clear that Senator Ali Ndume is the candidate that immediate past Senate President Bukola Saraki finally bequeathed the Nigerian Senate as his success being that he is the one the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is confident will give them the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-majority National Assembly if elected as President of the Senate.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which met ahead of the Ninth National Assembly inauguration which comes up Tuesday June 11, had expressed support for Senator Ndume for the position of the President of the Senate.

The party in a statement issued by its National Secretary, Sen. Umar Tsauri, early on Tuesday also endorsed Mr Umar Bago for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

TSauri said that the endorsement was arrived at after very extensive consultations with critical stakeholders ahead of the inauguration of the 9th NASS

“The final resolution on Sen. Ndume and Bago was reached at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the National Working Committee, party leaders, state governors as well as senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP.

“This decision is in the best interest of the nation in line with our party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, strict compliance with the principle of separation of powers as well as constitutional checks and balances in the polity.”

“All senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP are to be guided accordingly,” he said.

Ndume from Borno is running against Sen. Ahmed Lawan from Yobe, who is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bago, a three-time member of the House of Representatives, will contest against Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, also chosen by the APC leadership.

Lawan and Gbajabiamila became the leader of the Senate and leader of the House of Representatives respectively in the 8th NASS after losing contests for the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House in spite of the endorsement of the party in 2015.