*Insists on National Assembly reconvening
*Saraki through proxies made several failed attempts to buy Senators at N100m each
“During Sunday’s meeting, the PDP Senators planned several types of attack, one of which is to lure some of them (APC Senators) out at night in the guise of inviting Senators to a political settlement meeting and thereafter instigate a violent confrontation during the meeting and unleash standby PDP thugs on APC Senators”, adding that, “Our source privy to the meeting informed us.”
Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over plans by the senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to attack its senators in a bid to make Dr. Bukola Saraki clings to the position of Senate President.
It therefore called on the security agents to protect APC senators and that in event that any senator is harmed the PDP and Saraki should be held directly responsible for it.
The APC, which said it had the information about the opposition’s plans to cause violence against its senators through its source who was privy to a meeting they held on Sunday in the Maitama, Abuja home of one of the PDP leaders, made this alarm in a statement on Tuesday, by its spokesman Mr. Yekini Nabena, copy of which was made available to The DEFENDER.
It said, “Our attention has been drawn to sinister plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to attack some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators as part of the PDP’s desperate bid to ensure that Dr. Bukola Saraki clings to the position of Senate President.
“By this statement, we call on security agents to protect APC Senators. If any Senator is harmed, the PDP and Saraki should be held directly responsible. We call on security agencies to also closely monitor the activities of some PDP leaders including Saraki because the plan to attack APC Senators is real and imminent.
“We were informed that the plot was hatched in the private residence of a PDP leader in Maitama-Abuja on Sunday night. The meeting was attended by 15 pro-Saraki Senators including the Senate President himself.
“We learnt that the PDP expressed worry over the APC’s Senate majority and considered several options to stop the APC from taking over the Senate leadership among which is attacking some APC Senators to ensure their inability to attend legislative sittings.”
The ruling Party specifically revealed that, “The PDP have recruited thugs for this purpose, we have now learnt.”
It explained how it came about the need to raise the alarm: “During Sunday’s meeting, the PDP Senators planned several types of attack, one of which is to lure some of them (APC Senators) out at night in the guise of inviting Senators to a political settlement meeting and thereafter instigate a violent confrontation during the meeting and unleash standby PDP thugs on APC Senators”, adding that, “Our source privy to the meeting informed us.”
Speaking further it said, “This revelation has not come to us as a surprise because the Senate President through proxies has made several failed attempts to buy over APC Senators with N100million each.
“As a Party, we don’t believe in inducing lawmakers to achieve our legitimate goal of removing Saraki as Senate President. We will get the support of some PDP Senators to get the required 2/3 vote and impeach Saraki. We are already talking to some of PDP Senators who believe and support the direction of the President Muhammadu Buhari “administration to achieve our legitimate goal.
“We reiterate our call for Saraki’s immediate resignation as Senate President. He cannot lead the APC majority Senate. But if he fails to resign honourably, we will impeach him. The PDP’s propaganda and threat of violence cannot save him.”
On the reconvening of National Assembly, the party said Saraki’s decision not to reconvene is added proof that he is prepared to pursue his selfish interests over the national interest, adding that his actions as Senate President now bother on treason.
It said, “As Chairman of the 8th National Assembly, Saraki’s decision not to reconvene the National Assembly done with the support of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara further buttresses our position the Saraki is ever ready to pursue his selfish interests over National Interest. This is another brazen display of his penchant for abuse of powers and sabotage of government, however the cost and implication.
“While Saraki and his cohorts continue to postpone their doomsday regarding the imminent Senate leadership change, the yet-to-be considered 2019 budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dangerously delayed. Clearly, Saraki’s actions as Senate President now bother on high treason.”
