A former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has defied the position of President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, All Progressives Congress, on the candidate to be presented as the Senate president in the ninth National Assembly.
The National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has last week after a dinner the senators-elect had with Buhari, named the incumbent Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, as the choice of the President and the party for the Senate presidency.
But on Tuesday, Ndume began his campaign for the Senate presidency with the unveiling of his nine-point agenda, if elected on June 9.
Among others, Ndume promised to improve on the performance of the 8th Senate.
He pledged to make the office of the Senate President less attractive by reducing the unnecessary privileges attached to it.
He pledged to uphold the independence of the legislature and expressed his willingness to “work harmoniously and inter-dependently with the executive without undermining the principle of separation of powers.”
Ndume said: “We will make laws that will block leakages, devise improved means of generating revenue, especially through the amendment and review of our tax laws, which will help to reduce reliance on local and foreign loans to finance budget.
“We will run the 9th Senate transparently, through open accountability with full participation of all senators.
“For example, we will transfer the approving powers of the privileges of the senators like foreign travels, allowances to Senate Services Committee or a new committee to be known as Ways and Means Committee.”