Party calls for peace as crisis brews

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday, June 7, urged all its lawmakers-elect to put the interest of the party first by supporting the consensus candidates elected to lead the 8th Assembly.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the party's National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni.

According to the statement, the party said that it is natural for some members to be disappointed by the outcome of the straw poll that was conducted to select the party's official candidates for the posts of Senate President and Speaker.

Senator Ahmed Lawan and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila had emerged as the party's candidates for Senate President and Speaker respectively after the poll.

''We must put the interest of our party above personal interests and avoid a situation whereby any other candidate, apart from those picked by the party, will emerge as Senate President and House Speaker on Tuesday.

''Any outstanding issue will be resolved by the party so we won't go into Tuesday's election with more than one candidate each for the two posts: Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives.

''It would be a shame if, despite its majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, the APC is unable to produce a Senate President and a House Speaker of its choice,'' it said.

It explained that its role in the entire business of ensuring a common front within the party ahead of Tuesday's election with the fielding of one candidate for each post has been achieved.

It appealed to all aggrieved members to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign, in the overall interest of not just the party but the entire nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some members had on Saturday staged a walked out during the voting process organised by the party to choose the consensus candidates.