Tensions escalate over National Assembly Committees

The two chambers of the National Assembly – the Senate and the House of Representatives – resumed on Tuesday 13th September after a seven-week recess. Both chambers are not yet fully underway because the Committees, which usually form the fulcrum of legislative activities and agenda, have not been yet been set up.

Sources have disclosed that in the Senate, there is a palpable feeling of unease over the Committees' establishment and the appointment of their heads and deputies. This unease stems from Senate president David Mark's decision to hand over the power of assigning the Committees and their heads to two individuals; his own deputy Ike Ekweremadu, and the House Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba.

According to our sources the Senators are kicking out against this while a House of Representatives' Selection Committee has been appointed and will soon meet to conclude the assignment of the committees to various House members.

It is expected that, following the brouhaha over the House's breach of the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) zoning agreement for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, there will be concession to the party and to President Goodluck Jonathan which will ensure that their favourites get the prime Committees.

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Three Northern candidates to run against President Jonathan

With the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential candidate, this means that there will be three Northern candidates against Jonathan, who is the sole candidate from the South, which just might make the presidential election a widely polarised North vs South contest.

Nigerian commentators have generally concluded that the way things stand, the Jonathan/ Namadi Sambo ticket is perhaps more likely to win. This is not just because of the incumbency factor which admittedly plays a huge role in President Jonathan's favour. He is also the only major presidential candidate from the South.

The fact that Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which is most dominant in the South-West, has chosen Nuhu Ribadu means that it may not secure as large a vote it the South West as it would with a regional candidate.

Ribadu however appears to be the champion of the young upwardly mobile middle class and particularly in the South- West. But whether this will translate to actual votes remains to be seen.

For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.


© 2010 Menas Associates