Senate minority parties warn of division, leadership crisis

The minority parties in the Senate say they have not endorsed or selected for any position in the 10th National Assembly.

The minority parties alleged that there was an attempt by some forces inside and outside the Senate to divide them and compromised leadership on them.

The parties stressed that they would resist any attempt to foist a one party dictatorship in the Senate, saying they have pledged to work with new Senate leadership and the Executive arm of government to deliver good governance to Nigerians.

They made this known in a statement issued on Saturday, June 24, by Senator Mohammed Aliero, Senator Seriake Dickson, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Abdul Ningi, Senator Patrick Moro, Senator Onyebuchi Ezenwa, Senator Sumaila Kawu, and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

The senators said: “It has come to the notice of the Minority Political Parties in the Senate of an attempt by forces inside and outside the Senate to divide the Minority Parties and foist a pliant and compromised leadership on them.

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“We have pledged to work constructively with the new Senate leadership and the Executive branch to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people.

“We consequently hereby advise and caution that they should not aid any group inside or outside the Senate to divide and destabilise the Minority Parties and the Senate institution.

“Senators of the minority parties would meet when the Senate reconvenes and, in consultation with our respective political parties, would select its leaders without undue interference from anti democratic forces within or outside the Senate.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no Senator has yet been endorsed or selected for any Minority position as this would await due process as agreed by all Minority Parties in their last meeting.

“Attempt to foist a one party dictatorship would be resisted and would fail.

“We call on all members of the Minority Political Parties to work together in unity to defend the democratic institution of the Senate and Nigeria.”

The Star