Ndume Defiant On Running For Senate Presidency, Meets Osinbajo

Senator Ali Ndume

Sen. Ali Ndume has insisted on contesting for the Senate Presidency even after meeting with the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting between the vice-president and Ndume lasted for over an hour.

The agenda of the meeting was unknown to State House correspondents, but NAN learnt that it was not unconnected with the forthcoming election of a new leadership for the ninth National Assembly (NASS).

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed the candidature of Sen. Ahmed Lawan for the seat of Senate President and Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila for the position of Speaker of the House Representatives.

But, Ndume has continued to insist to contest for the seat of senate president.

The senator, who declined to comment on the outcome of his meeting with the vice-president, simply told the correspondents that he was on consultative mission to the State House.

When asked if he will step down for Sen. Lawan, Ndume rhetorically asked, “me?

Meanwhile the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday held a secret meeting with Sen. Ali Ndume at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The senator arrived the villa at about 3.20 p.m, and went straight to the vice-president’s office for the meeting whose agenda was unknown to State House correspondents.

The meeting was to deliberate on socio-political issues including the forthcoming election of new leadership for the ninth National Assembly.

The National leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had enjoined all APC members-elect of the National Assembly to support its decision to elect Sen. Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Senate President and Speaker of the Federal House Representatives respectively.

But Ndume had insisted to contest for the seat of senate president.

Ndume’s action has generated heat within the party.-NAN