APC had picked Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila for the respective posts but the opposition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) endorsed Saraki and Dogara who went on to win.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Lai Mohammed, the APC national publicity secretary, said: ”Senator Bukola and Hon. Dogara are not the candidates of the APC and a majority of its National Assembly members-elect for the positions of Senate President and House Speaker. The party duly met and conducted a straw poll and clear candidates emerged for the posts of Senate President, Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, supported by a majority of all Senators-elect and members-elect of the House of Representatives. All National Assembly members-elect who emerged on the platform of the party are bound by that decision.

”The party is supreme and its interest is superior to that of its individual members. Consequently, the APC leadership is meeting in a bid to reestablish discipline in the party and to mete out the necessary sanctions to all those involved in what is nothing but a monumental act of indiscipline and betrayal to subject the party to ridicule and create obstacles for the new administration.

”There can be no higher level of treachery, disloyalty and insincerity within any part.”

The APC asked all its “loyal” senators-elect to please report to the senate to be sworn-in in order to discharge their constitutional duties.