Senate: Lola Ashiru emerges Deputy Chief Whip as Tambuwal loses Minority Leadership ToMwadkwon 

By our staff reporter

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday announced the principal officers of the majority party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – in the upper legislative chamber.

Lola Ashiru, senator representing Kwara south was named deputy chief whip, following the emergence of Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south as Chief whip.

Opeyemi Bamidele, senator representing Ekiti central, was announced majority leader while David Umahi, senator representing Ebonyi south was named deputy majority leader.

It was however a big blow to the former Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal as he lost the Minority Leadership seat in the upper legislative chamber to Simon Mwadkwon, senator representing Plateau north.

The minority leadership of the upper legislative chamber was announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.

“The minority caucus of the senate is made up of about seven political parties and have come up with their leadership so I will proceed to announce [the names],” Akpabio said.

“Senator Simon Mwadkwon, minority leader, Oyewumi Olalere, deputy minority leader, senator Darlington Nwokocha, minority whip, and senator Rufai Anga, deputy minority whip.”

Tambuwal, immediate-past governor of Sokoto and a former number four citizen, was interested in the position to lead the minority caucus of the senate.

However, when the principal officers of the minority leadership was announced, his name was conspicuously missing.

The former governor’s bid to be minority leader was met with stiff resistance by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Many PDP members are still unhappy with the role Tambuwal played in ensuring former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar became the standard bearer of the party.