Anxiety - APC Senators Plot To Sack Saraki, Ekweremadu

Reports have emerged that there is unease at the National Assembly after some senators loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly vowed to remove Senate president, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, as the lawmakers resume from annual recess on Tuesday, October 9.

But senators belonging to the People Democratic Party (PDP), are reportedly fighting back and have resolved to resist any illegal move by APC lawmakers to force the Senate president and his deputy out of office, Vanguard reports.

The PDP lawmakers have insisted that leadership of the Senate is not by party affiliation but through an election by all the senators.

The party’s caucus cautioned the Senate leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, to desist from any plan to cause problems in the Senate.

Senate minority leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, representing PDP, Ekiti south, urged the APC caucus to refrain from distracting lawmakers from facing its duties.

“The Senate leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan should not cause tension and problem in the Senate. He should not promise the APC what he cannot deliver, Nigerians should hold him responsible if the Senate is unable to sit because the leadership of the Senate is not by party affiliation, it is through an election among all the Senators," Senator Olujimi said.

“Lawan should be reminded that the election of the present Presiding officers of the Senate was done even when he was not present. He should be reminded that responsible senators who attended the inauguration of the Senate as announced by President Buhari elected the Presiding officers and that Ahmad Lawan as the Senate leader should be conversant with the procedure for the removal of presiding officers and for the avoidance of doubt, the Senate is solidly behind the presiding offers and we will resist any attempt that will offset the calm situation in the Senate.

“The Senate leader should please note that we are returning to handle all outstanding issues and he should be held responsible if we are not able to accomplish them. We ask him as one of the Principal officers of the Senate to refrain from beating drums of war that will not do anyone any good. We have resolved as Senators of the Federal Republic to face our duties squarely and pray that no one distracts us. The unity of the Senate is more important than anybody’s inordinate ambition.”

But Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, of the APC from said lawmaker from his party would take the first opportunity open to them to remove Saraki as Senate president.

“Our demand has not changed, in fact, that demand has been accentuated by the directive of the APC national leadership,” Omo-Agege representing Delta central senatorial district said.

The APC senator called on Saraki to resign his position as the Senate president, insisting that he lacked the moral ground to retain the position after defecting to the PDP.