APC salutes Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Omo-Agege, Wase as new leaders of 9th National Assembly

The Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has saluted the four front runners of Ninth National Assembly who emerged through open ballot election at both chambers of the legislature on Tuesday.

At an open ballot voting on the floor of the Senate, former Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, was elected by majority of his colleagues as President of the Ninth Nigeria’s Senate while Senator Ovie Omo-Agege emerged automatically as Deputy Senate President.

At the House of Representatives leadership election also achieved through an open ballot voting, former House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila was elected as Speaker while Idris Wase became the Deputy Speaker.

The APC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, started by congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari for the resounding successes culminating into the Party’s now asserting itself as truly controlling majority in the legislature.

It also congratulated the National Chairman of the Party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, all APC governors, National Executive Committee, National Working Committee and other party leaders on the success of the Federal lawmakers at the election of the presiding officers for the Ninth National Assembly.

“Our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) congratulates our President, Muhammadu Buhari; the National Chairman of the Party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; our governors; the National Executive Committee (NEC); the National Working Committee (NWC) other party leaders; members and supporters on the success of our federal lawmakers at the election of the Presiding Officers for the 9th National Assembly.

“In the elections, the following candidates endorsed by APC were elected as follow:

1.    Senator Ahmad Lawan (President of the Senate/Chairman of the National Assembly);

2.    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Deputy President of the Senate);

3.    Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (Speaker, House of Representatives); and

4.    Hon. Idris Wase (Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives)

“This landslide victory by APC candidates is a triumph of democracy and party politics over the brazen lawlessness of anti-democratic forces that are nestled in the opposition party.

“Our party has consistently maintained that the leadership of the National Assembly belongs to the party in the majority. The outcomes of these elections have clearly validated our party’s efforts to institutionalize party discipline and loyalty.

“It is triumph of internal democracy, anchored on consensus building, to which we lay claim, over anti-democratic methods that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had foisted on our democracy over 16 years.

“We are deeply humbled by the honour bestowed on our great Party. While members of our great Party are entitled to savour this victory, we call on all to avoid pettiness and to continue to stretch hands of fellowship to progressive forces in other political parties and groups to consolidate our democracy.

“On the strength of our overwhelming numerical strength in the just inaugurated 9th National Assembly and election of the Party’s adopted candidates as presiding officers in its two chambers, we must recommit to cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government.

“The support of the National Assembly remains critical as an arm of government to enable the APC-led administration continue to deliver on our current scheme of provision of infrastructure throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria to boost economic development; to provide jobs to the citizenry; and to increase the tempo of social investments and empowerment of our people.

“More synergy between the executive and the legislature will also boost the fight against corruption and give more impetus to national reorientation and the efforts to secure the nation.

“This is a clear departure from the shenanigans of the last National Assembly leadership, let us therefore make a new start, and move forward to meet the great challenges we face and deliver on our Change Agenda and Next Level manifesto. The 9th National Assembly must now immediately address itself to delivering critical legislative intervention to enable the President Muhammadu Buhari administration succeed for the benefit of the Nigerian people and ensure the smooth running of government.

“Finally, we congratulate all National Assembly members – Senate and House of Representatives — under the platform of our great party on their inauguration following their victories in the 2019 National Assembly Elections.

“We applaud the electorate nationwide, whose representatives in both chambers of the National Assembly have entrusted the leadership of the legislature in the able hands of APC members, for voting for the Next Level of progress, prosperity and development.”