APC Senators Throw Punches Over Leadership Positions

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Saraki-Lawan
By Nuel Suji, Abuja.
Aggrieved senators of the All Progressive Congress (APC) caucus Tuesday engaged in a brawl over the zoning of the remaining leadership positions following disagreement the list sent in by the party secretariat.

At the meeting of the APC senators summoned to address the lingering problem, Senator Kabir Marafa (Zamfara Central) and Senator Tayo Alasoadura engaged in physical combat thereby bringing the meeting to an abrupt end, leaving the warring senate further divided.

Earlier at the plenary, Senate President Bukola Saraki had after adjournment announced that a meeting of the APC caucus was fixed for 2:00p.m.

The occasion which was the first time the two camps (Saraki and Lawan group) would agree to a meeting after the controversial election of Saraki as Senate president was held behind close door in meeting room 3: 01 and had about 40 APC Senators in attendance.

At the meeting, Senator Danjuma Goje, Gombe Central led the group loyal to  Saraki on one side, while Senator Barnabas Gemade, Benue North East led the group loyal to Lawan.

Declaring the meeting open, Saraki said, “I appeal to you all to let us do those things that will unite us than to those that will divide us. For me, I am ready and desirous, as colleagues to work with all of you in order to provide that focused leadership in the Senate and National Assembly as an institution.

A source told our correspondent hat the position of Saraki’s group was that candidates must emerge through an electoral process, the four favoured zonal caucuses should meet, conduct elections at zonal levels, then communicate winners of such elections to the Senate President and that once the zonal caucuses conclude their elections by the end of Tuesday, the Senate President would announce those to fill the posts at Wednesday plenary.

But the Unity Forum which supported Lawan were opposed to the idea, insisting that the names nominated by the APC national leadership to take the positions be adhered to.

There was a melodrama when  Senator Kabir Marafa, Zamfara Central,  pushed and attacked Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Ondo Central for daring to challenge the decision of the party.

Alasoadura was saved by the timely intervention of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara) who held Marafa firmly and prevented him from hitting at his target. Other Senators also joined to save the ugly situation even as the aggrieved senators resorted to abusive words against opponents.

The controversial list, it was learnt, emanated from the party secretariat and signed by its National Chairman, Mr. Odigie Oyegun.

However, decision could not be reached on the matter Tuesday as the incident further divided the two opposing camps.