Politics

Lobby For Juicy C’ittee Intensifies In Senate

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2023

Senate

Ahead of the composition of special and standing committees in the 10th Senate, intense lobby for the juicy ones has commenced among senators.

This is even as the minority caucus has resolved to fight for chairmanship of the juicy committees as a bloc.

The fight for who chairs the 63 standing committees has become tensed, with the issue of ranking, party affiliation, loyalists, former governors and close associates shaping the composition.

Though the fight for who chairs the nine special committees and 63 others has been outside the Assembly but with the resumption of senators from recess, intense politicking lobbying, intrigues and nocturnal meetings have reached a cresecndo.

It will be recalled that Senator Godswill Akpabio emerged president of the Senate on Tuesday, June 13, having scored 63 votes to defeat the former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zanfara West), who polled 46 votes.

The lobby is more intensed for chairmanship of such committees as Appropriations, Services, Downstream Petroleum Sector, Upstream Petroleum Sector, Banking, Insurance and other financial institutions.

Others include Army, Defence, Finance, Navy, Niger Delta Affairs, Customs, Excise and Tariff, Gas, Works, Foreign Affairs, Health, and Power.

Also, all the parties in the opposition have resolved to act as a bloc with regard to securing the chairmanship of juicy committees.

According to the opposition political parties, the decision to act as a bloc was taken to forward their demands to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who chairs the selection committee to enable him see and address the matter as a collective and very serious one, rather than individual negotiation that may not yield results.

Vanguard gathered that this assignment was given to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Simon Nwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North), and other minority leaders to handle during the Thursday, July 6 meeting.

A source told Vanguard that at the meeting held in Room 221 of the new Senate wing, a ranking senator from the North-East geo-political zone of the country told his colleagues that if results must be achieved with regard to getting chairmanship positions into Grade A committees, the minority caucus must go with list of committees as a bloc, instead of individuals going to lobby for them.

According to the source, the suggestion was agreed on unanimously by the senators as the minority caucus was immediately mandated to carry out the assignment with other minority leadership, who are also members of the selection committee.

The source said: “At the meeting of the minority caucus, a ranking senator and one who has been around, advised us that we should make a bloc demand for chairmanship of committees, instead of going about lobbying as individuals, which may not achieve anything and it was accepted by all of us and the minority leader and his team were then mandated to carry it out.”

At the moment, ruling APC has 59 senators; the PDP 36; Labour Party, LP, eight; New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, two; Social Democratic Party, SDP, two; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the Young Progressives Party, YPP, one each.
VANGUARD

Politics

2027: Power Minister Declares Oyo gov Ambition, Begins Consultation

Published

14 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, on Friday, met with All Progressives Congress leaders and stakeholders in Ogbomoso and Oyo zones in Oyo State, respectively.

Addressing party members in Ogbomoso at the residence of one of the leaders of the party, Ayoade Adeseun, the minister said the meeting was part of his consultations across geopolitical zones in the state towards realisation of his governorship ambition in 2027.

He, therefore, allayed the fear of the party stakeholders that APC would not impose any aspirant in 2027, saying, “I’m up to the task, I want to show them that I can withstand and survive competition and come out victorious.”

While seeking their supports towards the realisation of his ambition, Adelabu pleaded for forgiveness from aggrieved members, saying they should be concerned of how the party will come back to power in 2027.

He said, “I’m here to tell you that I want to contest for governor of Oyo State in 2027. I’m ready to put to test all experience I’ve gathered from the past two elections.

“I’m not against other zones becoming governor of the state, all I know is that God’s time is the best.

“Ogbomoso is very important in this state election, I’m here to seek for your support and backing, I’m happy to see that all the factions in Ogbomoso are now one.”

He also called on people in the zone to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for more dividends of democracy.

“This is another turn of Yorubas to serve their two terms as President of Nigeria. Nigeria has a lot to benefit if Tinubu is re-elected,” Adelabu added.

In Oyo town, Adelabu pleaded for their supports, saying “I will run all inclusive government where everybody will be involved in governance of the state and no one will be left behind if I become governor of the state in 2027.

“I’m here for people to know that no one can impose anybody, I want to work and prove to our party members that I’m up to the task, I want to show them that I can withstand and survive competition and come out victorious.

“Oyo is like a second home to me, my supporters, followers, associates and allied are all here, they have been supporting me in the past and they are ready to support me again.

“I will give what is due to Oyo. Oyo zone deserves better treatment because it is symbolic, Oyo is historical, symbolic and blessing to the entire state.”

Adeseun and son of former governor, Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, urged members of the party to come together and ensure emergence of the APC in 2027.

Politics

JUST IN] 2027: South-South APC Endorses Tinubu, Four Govs For Re-election

Published

15 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress South-South zone, on Saturday, rose from its zonal stakeholders meeting in Benin City, Edo State capital, with a resolution to adopt President Bola Tinubu as the zone’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The party also adopted the four governors of the party in South-South as sole candidates for the party in the 2027 governorship elections in the four states controlled by the party.

The four governors who benefited from the resolution are Governor Bassey Edet of Cross River State, who doubles as the South-South APC Coordinator, and Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

The two others are governors of Delta and Akwa Ibom States, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Umo Bassey Eno, respectively, who joined the APC from their former People’s Democratic Party, a few months ago.

The communique containing the resolutions was read by Chief Victor Giadom, APC National Vice Chairman, South-South, and the motion for its adoption was moved by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and seconded by the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, presiding.

Details later…

Politics

Coalition: Why Tinubu Must Not Sleep —Primate Ayodele

Published

21 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has warned President Bola Tinubu to be vigilant, stating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is already making mistakes that could cost them victory in the 2027 elections.

According to Primate Ayodele, the APC’s national convention will mark the beginning of the party’s crisis.

“For APC, their convention is dangerous, and the convention will mark the beginning of APC’s crisis. Tinubu must not sleep because mistakes are being made already. I see serious problems in the party, but they are not yet seeing it,” he revealed.

Primate Ayodele also revealed that there are several things God has shown him regarding the 2027 elections, and more will be revealed at the launch of his annual prophecy book, “Warnings to the Nations,” on July 5, 2025.

The book, which has been published annually since 1994, features prophecies concerning various nations, world leaders, and influential individuals.

In addition to his warning to President Tinubu, Primate Ayodele advised opposition candidates against relying on their proposed coalition platform, All Democratic Alliance (ADA), saying it will fail.

Instead, he suggested they adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform, which he believes has the capacity to build something strong.

“ADA Party will not give you anything, ADC is better for a coalition front than ADA. Even SDP cannot make any tangible movement, let them use ADC so they won’t build on an infertile ground.”

The upcoming edition of “Warnings to the Nations” spans over 600 pages and features prophecies on Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, Ghana’s President John Mahama, and prominent Nigerian billionaires such as Mike Adenuga, Aliko Dangote, and Abdul Samad Rabiu.

The book has a track record of accurately foretelling significant global events, with over 15,000 prophecies coming to pass since its inception.