The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has declared that he has no preferred candidates for the 10th National Assembly leadership which would be inaugurated in June 2023.

Tinubu made the declaration while addressing federal lawmakers-elect at a meeting organised by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

The President-elect’s position on the composition of the National Assembly leadership was made known at the meeting by the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima as Tinubu was absent from the parley.

The meeting, which was chaired by the APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdulahi Adamu, was exclusive as journalists were not allowed inside.

However, one of the elected members of the House of Representatives, Festus Adefiranye of Ileoluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency, disclosed that the President-elect’s speech was read by Shettima.

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He said Tinubu urged the lawmakers-elect to network among themselves to agree on the emergence of a leadership that would be agreeable to them.

Adefiranye added that Tinubu said whoever they come up with would be presented to the party’s leadership which would ensure that such complies with the principle of justice, balance, and equity in line with the zoning arrangement of the party.

On why Tinubu was absent at the meeting, another member of the House of Representatives-elect from Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, Donald Ojogo, said the President-elect was busy working in Lagos State ahead of the March 18 governorship and State Assembly elections in the state.

Also speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the lawmaker-elect for Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, Abdulmalik Zubairu Bungudu, said the 10th National Assembly leadership is not Tinubu’s priority for now.

Bungudu disclosed that Tinubu’s message delivered by Shettima was aimed at spurring lawmakers-elect to focus on the forthcoming elections.

“For now, he said he doesn’t have anybody that he prefers to have as Senate President or Speaker, but consultations are going to continue to get the way out for the party and to also ensure the party emerges victorious in the forthcoming governorship and Houses of Assembly elections,” he said.

Others present at the meeting were Vice President Yemi- Osinbajo, APC National Secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, and other leaders of the ruling party.

The Star