The governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) have endorsed Senator Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the ninth National Assembly expected to be inaugurated on Tuesday.
The newly elected Chairman of the PGF and Governor of Kebbi state, Atiku Bagudu, who addressed journalists after the meeting last night, said the governors had always been unanimous in supporting President Muhammadu Buhari.
Bagudu said the governors would work towards ensuring that both Lawan and Gbajabiamila succeeded.
He said the governors were united in supporting the positions taken by the party and urged all senators-elect and members-elect to also back the position.
Bagudu said, “We use the opportunity to deliberate on our support for the leadership of the National Assembly. The governors of the APC have always been unanimous in supporting the party leader, President Muhammadu Buhari and our party in ensuring that we achieve a common purpose.
“Towards that extent, we are all unanimous in our support for Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate presidency and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the Speaker of the House of Representatives and all governors are in agreement and we will work towards that purpose.”
On APC members kicking against the zoning arrangement, he said, “We are urging our members, Senators and members of the House of Representatives to support the position and it is encouraging to see that other parties are happy to see the emergence of the unanimous position that has been taken by APC.”
Asked whether the meeting discussed the current issues in the party, Bagudu said, “This is an inaugural meeting, at all times, there are issues about the party that will obviously be discussed.
“We are cognizant of the things we need to do to strengthen the party particularly emerging from a general election.”
The meeting was attended by the governors of Edo, Lagos, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Plateau, Gombe, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, as well as deputy governors of Kaduna and Borno.
