A former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has said his ambition to be the next Senate President is not at cross-purposes with the interest of the Presidency.
Ndume is struggling for the office of the Senate President, in spite of the decision of his party, the All Progressives Congress, which has endorsed Senator Ahmed Lawan for the office.
In a statement, Ndume said long before the general elections, he had sought the permission of President Muhammadu Buhari to be the Senate President.
He said Buhari gave him the go-ahead then and he had not taken a different position since then.
He believes that President has nothing against my aspiration for the office of the Senate President because I sought his permission long before the general elections and he gave me the go-ahead. I have not heard anything otherwise from him.
Ndume also dismissed the claim that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo pressured him to drop the ambition of becoming the Senate President when he met him recently in Aso Villa.
He said it was misinformation and the truth is that it is usual for me to meet with the Vice-President to discuss issues of common interest, especially the humanitarian crisis in the North-East, of which the Vice- President has shown exceptional interest in helping out.
