Nigeria’s opposition People’s Democratc Party Monday night adopted Ali Ndume and Umar Bago as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after very extensive consultations with critical stakeholders resolves to support Senator Ali Ndume and Hon. Umar Mohammed Bago for Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives respectively, ahead of National Assembly inauguration on Tuesday,” National Secretary, Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri said in a statement.

Tsauri said the decision was in the best interest of the nation, in line with “our party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, strict compliance to the principle of separation of powers as well as constitutional checks and balances in the polity.”

“All senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP are to be guided accordingly,” Tsauri added.

The final resolution on Ndume and Bago was reached at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the NWC, party leaders, state governors as well as senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP.

The 9th National Assembly will be inaugurated on Tuesday with Ahmed Lawan representing Yobe North Constituency and Ndume, representing Borno South, both on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking to be the President of the 9th Senate.

While Femi Gbajabiamila and Bago are in a hot chaserunning neck and neck for the position of the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.

A statement issued on Monday by the APC spokesperson, Lanre Issa-Onilu, restated that the duo of Lawan and Gbajabiamila were the party’s candidates for the positions of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.

He said the party arrived at the conclusion following wide consultations with President Buhari and party stakeholders, including the APC governors.

“All elected APC members of the Senate and House of Representatives are hereby directed to fully mobilise as a united force behind the party’s choices”, Onilu said.