Senate Presidency: Saraki’s aide apologizes over zoning tweet

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The media aide to a former governor of Kwara state, Bukola Saraki, has apologized over a tweet that claimed the All Progressives Congress, APC, zoned the senate presidency to Nigeria’s North Central.

The aide, Bamidele Omisore, issued a statement Tuesday saying he merely shared on social media information he found on the Daily Trust newspaper.

He said was “excited” after reading the report which made the zoning claim, and therefore, tweeted it without checking the facts.

“Unfortunately, after reading the story in Daily Trust this morning, out of excitement I immediately reacted to the story by sharing it on all our social media networks without first checking within the party to confirm the validity of the story,” Mr. Omisore said.

“As the Special Assistant on Media & Advocacy to Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki and in my personal capacity, I take full responsibility for the error and apologize to the party and all concerned that might have been inconvenienced by this action, “he said.

The APC had earlier denied the report that its National Working Committee met on Monday night and zoned the Senate Presidency to the North-Central and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South-West, saying nothing like that ever happened.

The denial came after some reports claimed the National Assembly offices had been zoned by the party.

The post on Mr. Saraki’s Twitter handle had said, “I am delighted that the NWC of our dear party yesterday reaffirmed its earlier decision to zone position of Senate President to North Central”.

In a statement by its National Secretary, Mala Buni, the APC said it was deeply embarrassed by the story, and said it was apparently planted in the media to sow the seeds of instability in the party.

”The NWC never discussed the issue of zoning at its meeting. Therefore, the report of its decision on zoning is a figment of the imagination of whoever concocted the story,” the party said.

APC said nothing has changed since the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari said he is ready to work with anyone from any part of the country who occupies any of the principal offices of the incoming National Assembly, including those of the Senate Presidency and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.