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The Forum of National Assembly Legislative Aides from North-West has urged lawmakers-elect contesting for principal officers to respect the choices made by the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress.

The forum made the call in Abuja on Tuesday while addressing a news conference.

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The NWC of APC had, in its zoning arrangements for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, anointed Godswill Akpabio (South-South) as Senate president and Jibrin Barau (North-West) as deputy Senate president.

The party also anointed Tajudeen Abbas (North-West) as the House of Representatives speaker and Benjamin Kalu (South-East) as deputy speaker.

But some APC lawmakers-elect had gone ahead to signify interest in contesting for various principal officers against the decision of the NWC.

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Zonal leader of the forum, Abdulrazaq Dunkawa, while supporting the decision of the NWC said the North-West deserved the two presiding officers’ positions.

According to him, the North-West contributed the highest number of votes to the APC in the presidential and federal parliamentary elections.

“We, Legislative Aides from the North-West, will like to place it on record that the geopolitical zone contributed the highest number of votes to the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections,” the group stated. “Results from the elections show that North-West played a crucial role in keeping APC in power by securing the majority of honourable members and distinguished senators in both chambers.”

The group added, “The zone no doubt rightly deserves the zoning made by the party as far as leadership of the 10th National Assembly is concerned.”

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The forum called on other contestants to allow party supremacy to establish discipline, order and legislative democracy to thrive in the 10th National Assembly.

(NAN)