2023: Senate President to OBA,  other Senators: Accept outcome of primaries

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has urged Senators to accept outcomes of party primaries. This charge by Lawan comes ahead of the conduct of primaries by the Political Parties  including

Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP, the ruling All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance,  APGA and other political parties for the emergence of candidates for the 2023 general elections,

Insiders conversant with the workings of the Senate told our reporter that the Senate President had to give the advice because of pressure mounted on him by Senators including those who are running for Governor that he should use the power of the Senate to influence and help them win the primaries in their respective states.

The source said since most of the Senators started complaining and protesting about the Ward Delegates elections in their States they have been bombarding the Senate President with petitions and protests trying to manipulate the senate to pass motions condemning the conduct of party congresses and the upcoming primaries

Lawan however took the more pliable route of urging political parties to conduct free and fair primaries and give aspirants a level playing field by conducting the primaries in line with the guidelines of their parties and the Electoral Act. The source said this is the best option available to the Senate President.

Lawan gave OBA who has been sponsoring protests and petitions against the conduct of the Ward Delegates Congress the charge yesterday in Abuja moments before he adjourned plenary till june 7 well after the party Primaries would have been concluded and announcement of the close of plenary.

Lawan tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on fairness, justice and equity, which it earlier promised, as political parties move into the process of primaries.

Lawan gave OBA and other Senators the charge to accept the result of party primaries so as to preempt distractions by Senators who will lose the primaries when Senate resumes plenary on June 7.

He noted that the Senate was adjourning to enable Senators participate actively in the processes leading to primaries, revealing that virtually all Senators were contesting for one office or the other, ahead of 2023 elections

Th Senate President’s declaration has thrown OBA and his colleagues off balance as this is the clearest indication yet that the Senate nay the National Assembly would not be dragged into party affairs as far as the party Primaries are concerned.  The Senate President is the chairman of the National Assembly