The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reaffirmed its earlier position that, despite being a minority in the incoming National Assembly, its members might seek to lead the legislative chambers.
However, the opposition party said it still had to decide who to support the leadership positions of the National Assembly.
Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, won the Senate and House of Representatives majority in the elections. It won more than 60 of the 109 seats in the Senate and more than 220 of the House of Representatives with 360 seats.
While the APC is expected to produce both chambers ‘ leadership, intense rivalry among its members could make the PDP a major decision-maker on who would emerge for the four leadership positions.
The APC has stated that it must produce the Senate President and Senate Deputy President as well as House of Representatives Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The ruling party also threatened to ensure that members of the PDP are not appointed as NASS chairmen of committees.
While the APC has declared support for Femi Gbajabiamila as the next speaker and Ahmed Lawan as the president of the senate, some other elected party legislators have vowed to challenge both men for the positions.
This has turned the PDP, which has the second largest number of elected lawmakers, into a darling that all aspirants are courting.
The PDP spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, said in his Sunday statement that the party still has to decide who to support.
Mr Ologbondiyan said the position of the party was based on reports in a media section suggesting that the elected members of the PDP in the House of Representatives had settled for a particular aspirant.
He said the PDP was still consulting with their elected members.
Mr Ologbondiyan said that no official position had been taken on the matter, “especially since the positions of the presiding officers are not the exclusive preservation of the ruling party or any other party in the matter, but the constitutional right of each elected legislator in their respective chambers.
‘ In addition, the PDP has a range of elected lawmakers in both chambers, who are highly qualified and equally popular among their colleagues across the divide, to hold office as presiding officers of both NASS chambers in accordance with Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The emergence of a purposeful leadership that will ensure accountability and good governance in politics is important for Nigerians.”
Mr. Ologbondiyan said PDP is committed to the nation’s well-being as a party.
He urged Nigerians to discount such reports that the legislators had settled for any presiding office in the NASS for a particular aspirant.
