Plot To Stop Sambo As V P Thickens in Abuja

ABUJA, May 15, (THEWILL) - Plot to stop Kaduna State Governor Namadi Sambo from being confirmed as Vice President has thickened in Abuja as some Federal lawmakers opposed to his nomination at the weekend scaled up their plans to frustrate his endorsement by the legislature.

This is despite intense lobbying by Sambo and some State Governors who have been in Abuja since Thursday to persuade the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly and some influential lawmakers to facilitate the approval of his nomination.

President Goodluck Jonathan forwarded Sambo’s name to the National Assembly on Friday despite that fact that lawmakers from the three geo-political zones in the north had reached a consensus endorsing former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi for the position.

The choice of Sambo is said to have drawn the ire of some influential senators who felt slighted by the President for not honouring the demand of the National Assembly to appoint a Vice President from the federal legislature.

They are also unhappy that the President undermined their consensus and favoured Sambo who is believed to be the candidates of the State Governors.

It was gathered that the aggrieved lawmakers including those from the North-West have been meeting since Thursday to perfect methods to frustrate Sambo’s clearance at the Senate.

Also some lawmakers from Katsina, home state of late President Umaru Yar’ Adua are said to be unhappy that a candidate from Katsina or somebody anointed by the Katsina caucus was not picked by Jonathan.

Their nomination, Senate Chief Whip Senator kanti Bello from Katsina State was turned down by the President.

However a check by THEWILL has revealed that there is now a major split in the National Assembly on the matter with some lawmakers already backing Sambo.

It was gathered that while the Senate is still nursing anger against the President, the leadership of the House of Representatives and some key members of the House have resolved to fast track the process to confirm Sambo on Tuesday.

The leadership of the House it was gathered took the decision to spite the Senate over the choice of Makarfi against a member of the House as consensus candidate of the National Assembly.

While the Senate has yet to acknowledge receipt of the nomination, House has listed consideration of the appointment for Tuesday.

Chairman House Committee on Rule and Business Honourable Ita Enang confirmed that the leadership of the House had decided to accelerate the exercise adding that that was why it has been listed in the notice paper and circulated to the members ahead of Tuesday plenary.

Meanwhile Governors and influential politicians especially those from the north have intensified their lobbying to get the Senate to consider the nomination on Tuesday.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Aloysius on phone to ascertain if the matter will be listed for Tuesday failed as his aides said he has been in a meeting with other top officials of the Senate.