The meeting between the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of Senate caucus on Monday on the position of minority leadership of the Senate, failed to reach a decision.
Former Sokoto State governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who was rumoured to have been chosen by the party, was reportedly rejected by some members of the party and other minority parties.
A report emerged over the weekend that former Senate Deputy Majority Leader Abdul Ningi may be an alternative choice.
Tambuwal and Ningi were among the senators present at the meeting.
New Telegraph gathered that 30 out of the 36 PDP attended the meeting while six sent apologies.
The party in a statement after the meeting by the National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, said the party and the Senators agreed to “continue with consultations on the emergence of the minority leadership in the Senate and are resolved to collectively present a unified leadership after due and conclusive considerations.
“Accordingly, the PDP will continue to provide the necessary leadership in this regard.
“Consequently, the meeting resolved that the PDP NWC communicates to the Senate President, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, on the on-going consultation in the minority caucus to the effect that the nominations into the minority leadership positions in the Senate has not been concluded and that upon conclusion, the nominated list will be formally conveyed to him appropriately for necessary action.”
The party condemned “the alleged subterranean moves by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to meddle with the affairs of the minority with regards to the emergence of the minority leadership which is an exclusive reserve of the minority caucus as expressly stipulated by Constitutional provisions and Standing Rules of the Senate.”
PDP stressed the importance of a virile and stable opposition in the Senate and indeed the National Assembly and the caucus assured that it would play that important role in the defense of democracy, the interest and wellbeing of Nigerians.
“The PDP NWC commends the members of the PDP caucus in the Senate for their unity, steadfastness, loyalty to the party and commitment towards the sustenance and deepening of democracy in our country,” the statement added.