9th NASS: North-Central govs endorse Lawan, Gbajabiamila

The race for the leadership of the 9th National Assembly leadership hot up yesterday with the

All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and party state chairmen from the North-Central on Thursday endorsed the choices of Dr. Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila for Senate President and Speaker.

The endorsement was done at a closed-door meeting of stakeholders from the zone at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

The meeting was presided over by the Plateau State Governor, Rt Hon. Simon Lalong.


According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to Plateau State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mark Longyen, the session lasted one hour.

Addressing newsmen, Lalong said: “A meeting of governors and the party chairmen from North- Central on Thursday resolved to go along with the decision of the party’s endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate President and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 9th National Assembly.

“Since it was a party affair, our decision was in line with the wish of the party and that is why we the governors and state chairmen of our party from the zone are in support of the decision of the party”.

When asked what the zone stands to gain in the power-sharing formula, Lalong said: “We are still deliberating. We have not exhausted the positions with respect to zoning.

“Our decision and position are only on two issues, while the rest delibrations are ongoing.

“There is going to be a continuation of our meeting in respect of positions to the North Central with both Mr. President and the party”.

The meeting had in attendance Lalong, his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Sani Bello; Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura and Benue State APC governorship candidate, Barrister Emmanuel Jime.

State APC Chairmen in attendance were Engr. Jibrin Imam of Niger State; his Kogi State counterpart Alhaji Abdullahi Bello; Nasarawa State’s Philips Shekwo; Chief Letep Dabang of Plateau State, Comrade Abba Yaro of Benue State as well as the FCT’s Abdullahi Usman.