President Bola Tinubu held a meeting with 109 Senators-elect and 360 House of Representatives members-elect at the Presidential Villa in Abuja ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly. The President urged them to unite and support the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidates for the leadership positions in the National Assembly. The preferred candidates are Senator Godswill Akpabio for Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau for Deputy Senate President, Tajudeen Abbas for Speaker, and Benjamin Kalu for Deputy Speaker.
Tinubu emphasized that these candidates possess the necessary qualities and experience to lead a stable and progressive parliament that can effectively address national issues. He urged the lawmakers to prioritize the nation’s interests over party politics and work towards a united and inclusive parliament.
In response, the lawmakers-elect expressed gratitude for the President’s message and assured him of their commitment to a cooperative relationship with the executive branch while maintaining the independence of the legislature.
However, opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), withheld their plans for the leadership of the National Assembly, stating that they would vote for common candidates in both chambers. They affirmed their intention to maximize the majority status of opposition parties during the election of Presiding Officers.
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State claimed that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) fully supports the APC’s preferred candidates for the National Assembly leadership positions. He stated that the governors, regardless of party affiliations, agreed to back the President’s choices after their meeting with him.
The Clerk to the National Assembly announced that the 10th National Assembly would be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13, and provided instructions for registration.
In another development, Christian leaders under the Christian Organisation of Nigeria (CON) endorsed Senator Abdulaziz Yari for the position of Senate President, urging Senators-elect to consider the promotion of Nigeria’s socio-economic development and avoid regional or religious sentiments during voting.
Furthermore, concerned political leaders advised Southern aspirants for the Senate President position to step down for a Northern aspirant, emphasizing the importance of Northern representation in the country’s political equation.
A pro-democracy group, the Natives, warned against the emergence of any Muslim aspirant as the Senate President, advocating for the joint ticket of Akpabio and Barau. The group believed that their selection represents healing and avoids religious dominance.
Outgoing Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, called on incoming lawmakers to reconsider the bill proposing special seats for women in the National Assembly to increase women’s participation in politics.
Lastly, the 100 Women Lobby Group urged President Tinubu to fulfill his promise of ensuring adequate representation of women in appointive positions, demanding 35% women representation for gender equity across all levels.