Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, a former lawmaker who represented Abia North District at the 8th Senate, says the announcement of Principal Officers by the National Assembly will be difficult for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reverse.
This comes on the heels of the APC’s claim that the party was not properly consulted before the announcement of the names of the principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives by the Senate President and Speaker.
Asked if the ruling party can reverse the appointments during his appearance on Channel Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Ohuabunwa said it will be a herculean task.
“It will be difficult. The only thing you can reverse is what the Senate took on its own, and you have to come through a motion for you to reverse any decision because it is a decision of the National Assembly, and for you to reverse it, it has to be through a motion, and that motion first must be upheld before you do whatever you want to do,” Senator Ohuabunwa said.
“So, it’s no longer about party leadership; it’s about the members of the Senate or the House of Representatives,” the former lawmaker added.
Expressing his satisfaction with the choice of lawmakers announced as principal officers of the 10th assembly in both chambers, Ohabunwa said that all those that emerged as principal officers are people who have good records and experience to deliver on their duties.
He also commended the National Assembly for following the Federal Character Principle in the appointment of the Principal Officers, saying that all six geopolitical zones were represented in the leadership of the federal legislature.
MUK TV earlier reported that Akpabio had announced Senator Opeyemi Bamidele from Ekiti State as Senate Leader, Senator Dave Umahi from Ebonyi State as Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume from Borno State as Chief Whip, and Senator Lola Ashiru from Kwara State as Deputy Chief Whip.
While Senator Simon Davou (Plateau North, PDP, Minority Leader), Oyewunmi Olarere (Osun West, PDP, Deputy Minority Leader), Darlington Nwokeocha (Abia Central, LP, Minority Whip), and Rufai Hanga (Kano Central, NNPP, Deputy Minority Whip) were announced as the Minority Caucus.
Similarly, at the House of Representatives, the Speaker, Abass, announced Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo) as House Majority Leader, Halims Abdullahi (APC-Kogi) as Deputy Majority Leader, Bello Kumo (APC-Gombe) as Chief Whip, and Adewunmi Onanuga (APC-Ogun) as Deputy Chief Whip.
Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Minority Leader), Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Deputy Minority Leader), Ali Isah (PDP, Minority Whip), and George Ozodinobi (Labour Party, Deputy Minority Whip) were announced as the Minority Caucus.
