By Rotimi Ajayi, Emmanuel Aziken &Tordue Salem
ABUJA—RETIRED Brigadier-General David Bonaventure Mark (Benue South) is the choice of the leadership of the ruling PDP as the nation’s next Senate President, and Mrs. Patricia Etteh (Aiyedade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency in Osun State is its choice as the next Speaker of the Hosue of Representative. Senator Mark was nominated as the PDP upon the strong backing of President Olusegun Obasanjo who leaves office today.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu from Enugu State was chosen as the party’s nominee for the post of Deputy President of the Senate while Senator Teslim Folarin from Oyo State was chosen as the next Senate leader. Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) was picked by the party as the deputy Senate Leader while Senator Kanti Bello from Katsina State, the only ranking Senator from the North-West emerged as the next Senate Chief Whip.
Senator Bello’s choice as Chief Whip was easily achieved through the ranking rule as he is the only Senator returned by the PDP in the North-West zone.
The pronouncement of the party’s choice was made at a meeting of all PDP Senators-Elect with the party leadership. The choice of Senator Mark over Senator Abubakar Sodangi was said to have been effected upon pressures from President Obasanjo who was reported to have affirmed that he would be more comfortable with Mark.
Senator Mark a three term Senator and strong ally of the former President was like Obasanjo, a retired Army General.
Mrs. Etteh was chosen as an unopposed candidate at a meeting of the leadership caucus held at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday.
Others chosen by the leadership caucus include Alhaji Babangida Nguroje, (Taraba), as Deputy Speaker, Mr Bethel Amadi, House Whip and Col Tunde Akogun, leader of the House।
://
No comments:
Post a Comment