The Battle For Principal Officers In The Senate Gets Tough.

Things are not that smooth in the Senate, Unless the dissent among Senators is nipped in the bud before the resumption of plenary on June 28, they too may revolt against party directives. David Mark was re-elected Senate President on Monday alongside Ike Ekweremadu his Deputy. On Tuesday, the Chamber went on holiday for three weeks after failing to agree on how to fill the remaining eight leadership positions. The PDP, which controls the Senate, is in a dilemma over which zone should get the job of Senate Leader vacated by the South West. The South-South and the North East are laying claim to the slot.
Those jostling for it are former Deputy Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Ali Ndume, now a Senator. Mark wants Ndoma-Egba for the post, but the North East is opposed to it, as well as some South South lawmakers who prefer another ranking Senator from the South-South to be given the opportunity, not Cross River, where Ndoma-Egba hails from. Minority party members are also up in arms.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has two of the four minority leadership slots. ACN Senators met on Tuesday night and agreed that George Akume would be the Minority Leader. But some outside the meeting said “the issue of the Minority Leader will be settled on the Senate floor” and vowed not to tow the party line. Others argued that the position is “a just reward for the South West.”