Garba Maidoki, Senator for Kebbi South, claims that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders were not honest to senators on the nomination of minority leaders for the 10th Senate.
Mr Maidoki made a claim to the media following the plenary on Tuesday.
At Tuesday’s plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio appointed Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North) as minority leader and Oyewunmi Olalere as deputy minority leader.
He named Darlington Nwokeocha (LP, Abia Central) minority whip and Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) deputy minority whip of the Senate.
Mr Akpabio said they were minority parties’ upper house consensus candidates.
PDP ignored senators
Mr Maidoki stated that the PDP leaders did not consult him and other party senators in the minority leader selection before announcing the names on the Senate floor.
The Kebbi Senator claimed he and other senators were in the PDP national secretariat on Monday for the minority leadership struggle, but party officials did not notify them that consensus candidates had been chosen.
He claimed the meeting ended with the PDP writing to the Senate saying it had not chosen its minority leaders.
Although being a senator, the senator declared he was not part of the minority party consensus leadership.
“Nobody contacted or texted me to tell me they were signing. Our minority caucus never discussed the subject.
We went to the PDP secretariat yesterday to find out what we should do, but they said something had yet to be decided. If nothing has been finalised, the PDP secretariat should write to the Senate to inform them that we have not agreed on minority caucus leadership.
Regrettably, individuals present declined to write this letter either because they were aware or responsible. We’re fine—two wrongs don’t make a right.
“We have 36 of the 50 senators in the minority caucus, and we cannot even agree on a leader. “I have nothing against those who emerged if 36 senators out of 50 signed as it is reported, and I think they did,” he remarked.
Notwithstanding the selection process irregularities, Mr. Maidoki said he is willing to cooperate with minority party leaders.
We are ready to work with leadership to ensure Senate success. We’re straightforward and unafraid.
Nigeria must succeed with government openness. Now that they’re here, I’m OK. We’ll work together because there’s no time to argue,” he remarked.
