Former Kwara State Governor and reelected representative of Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been endorsed for the Senate presidency by 35 out of 59 senators-elect on the platform of his party, the All Progressives Congress.
Saraki was endorsed on Saturday afternoon.
The endorsement came just a few minutes after news started making the rounds that Senator Ahmed Lawan had been endorsed by the APC for the position.
But Saraki, in a post on his Facebook and Twitter handles, accompanied by a short video clip, confirmed his endorsement by majority of his colleagues.
He simply said in the post: “Videos don’t lie.”
The full resolution of the senators-elect as read by Senator-elect Dino Melaye on behalf of Like mind senator:
Senators of the like mind are here today at the retreat organized by our dear Party All Progressives Congress, which is meant to equip and empower Senators-Elect of the 8th Assembly to prepare them toward the challenges ahead. We commend the leadership of our party for this timely and well-focused exercise.
The issue of National Assembly leadership is about integrity, competence, discipline and leadership skills and not about fixing of candidates just for mere horse-trading. Our stand is about electing a senator who eventually becomes the chairman of National Assembly and relates with the executive on behalf of Nigerians, fellow Senators and the National Assembly as an institution.
2) Furthermore leadership of National Assembly, is about the Senator that has the wherewithal to stabilize the legislative institution, working with the executive and judicial arm of government to be effective and perform to their optimal capacity.
In addition, we are aware of the fact that ALL Senators from the North Central zone has taken a firm position that they are only interested in the office of the Senate President which has been earlier zoned by the National Working Committee of our party and we are also aware that North Central Senators have resolved to abide by the resolution of the zone on a single candidate and anything short of this is an attempt to jeopardize the collective interest of the zone.
Of the 59 Senators of the APC, 35 of us present here today hereby reaffirm our collective commitment and resolution to ensure that the candidature of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the Senate President of 8th Assembly.
We also resolved that the office of the Deputy Senate President be zoned to the North East.
Dino Melaye for Like Minds Senators.
Saraki wrote on his Facebook and Twitter pages after the endorsement: I am grateful that 35 out of 59 APC Senator-elect making majority today endorsed my candidacy as Senate president.
Posted by Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Saturday, 23 May 2015.