The National Working Committee (NWC) of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “after very extensive consultations with critical stakeholders” has resolved to support Senator Ali Ndume and Hon. Umar Mohammed Bago for Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives respectively, ahead of the inauguration, today, Tuesday, June 11, 2019, of the 9th National Assembly.

This was made known in a statement signed by Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri, the National Secretary of the party.

The late decision means a total rejection of Senator Ahmed Lawan and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila adopted for the two NASS top leadership positions by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

“The final resolution on Senator Ndume and Hon. Bago was reached at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the National Working Committee, party leaders, state governors as well as senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP,” the Tsauri statement said.

“This decision,” it added, “is in the best interest of the nation, in line with our party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, strict compliance with the principle of separation of powers as well as constitutional checks and balances in the polity.

“All senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP are to be guided accordingly.”