Atiku and Wike are at loggerheads again over who becomes the next senate minority leader

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his estranged former G-5 governors in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at loggerheads over who is to become the next minority leader of the Nigerian senate.

In June last year, the PDP elected  Alhaji Abubakar as its flagbearer the presidential election at its Abuja convention. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was a candidate in that election but he was beaten into second place and to make matters worse for him, he was not then picked as the party's running mate.

With Alhaji Abubakar opting to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, Governor Wike and his supporters, made up primarily of four other governors, went on the war path. Governors Wike, Seyi Makinde  (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) made up what is was known as the G5 Group of Governors and opposed Atiku's candidacy.

 One of the key demands of the G5 was that PDP chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu stand down, as he, like Alhaji Abubakar is from northern Nigeria and for the sake of unity, it was argued that a southerner should replace him. With the elections now over, only Governor Makinde is still in office but the group appears to still be holding sway within the PDP.

Apparently, the G5 is supporting Senator Agom Jarigbe, the lawmaker representing the Cross River North Senatorial District to become minority leader. However, Alhaji Abubakar has declared his support for the former Sokoto State governor Senator Aminu Tambuwal, who us now the lawmaker representing the Sokoto South Senatorial District.

Under Nigerian law, in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, aside from the two presiding officer positions, eight principal positions are also to be occupied by elected lawmakers on the platforms of both the ruling and minority political parties. On resumption of the plenary on July 4, the senate president is expected to read the letter from the parties announcing their nominations for the minority leadership positions.

After the election of the presiding officers, both the majority and minority caucuses of the National Assembly are expected to appoint their leaders. In the run-up to July 4, the battle for the minority leader in the senate in particular is expected to be heated.

One PDP source said: “Tambuwal is Atiku’s choice as the PDP senate leader while Wike is also pushing for Jarigbe as minority leader. Wike is looking for an opportunity to get back at Tambuwal over the presidential elections primary elections.

“He is still bitter. However, the party would not allow him to try the same thing he did during the national elections with the National Assembly.”

With 36 senators in the upper chamber, the PDP is expected to take two out of the four minority seats comprising the senate minority leader, deputy minority leader, minority whip, and deputy whip. It appears that the PDP hierarchy has opted for Senator Tambuwal, a former speaker of the House of Representatives but the G% is campaigning against him.

One PDP  lawmaker said: “His Excellency, Senator Tambuwal is the one that the party has chosen as the senate leader. The party at this time needs someone who can play the role of opposition very well and he is experienced having been a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. The party wants a competent person for that position and no doubt, he is one.”