Adeyeye

Some senators-elect, who received their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday have cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to meddle in the process through which the Senate President and other leaders of the 9th Senate will emerge.

The newly elected senators further cautioned the APC and the Presidency to manage the issue of the election of presiding officers of the Senate in such a manner as to ensure peace in the Upper Chamber as well as harmonious relationship between the lawmakers and the Executive.

Speaking with newsmen at the event, the lawmakers, who did not rule out the possibility of the presidency and leadership of the ruling party in playing some role in the emergence of the next Senate leadership however said they must be careful in order not to re-introduce fresh crisis.

The elected senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Adedayo Adeyeye (APC) advised that for the 9th Senate to avoid the leadership crisis that engulfed the 8th Senate, the national leadership of his party must provide the required direction to that effect.

Also speaking, the senator-elect for Ekiti Central, Bamidele Opeyemi (APC) suggested that whatever process would be used by the presidency and party leadership must be well managed to avoid any backlash.

“The calibre and character of personalities elected for the 9th Senate are very solid and promising for the country but leadership is key.

”This is the very reason why the leadership of the ruling party must manage well, whatever process it is going to use for the emergence of leadership at both chambers this time around.

“Once this is done, the party and, in particular the National Assembly and the presidency will be on the same page on development-driven bills sponsorship, policy formulations, and approvals,” Opeyemi said.

On his own part, the spokesman of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North) stressed that the lesson learnt in the 8th Senate will be used to prevent the mistakes of the past from re-occurring.

His words: “I was a key player in the leadership configuration of the 8th Senate and the attendant crises that followed. As one of the 43 returnees now, the lessons learnt will be used to prevent the mistakes of the past from happening.”