Home / Lead Story / 15 Senators dump APC for PDP; PDP Reps celebrate; Security personnel barricade Saraki, Ekweremadu’s residences
Policemen in front of Saraki’s residence in Abuja on Tuesday

15 Senators dump APC for PDP; PDP Reps celebrate; Security personnel barricade Saraki, Ekweremadu’s residences

Policemen in front of Saraki’s residence in Abuja on Tuesday

By Naomi Sharang, Abiemwense Moru, Cecilia Ijuo

Fifteen senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They announced their movement to the PDP in a letter to President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, which was read at plenary on Tuesday.

The defectors are Dino Melaye (Kogi-West), Barnabas Gemade (Benue North-East), Ibrahim Danbaba (Sokoto), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara North) and Ubali Shittu (Jigawa North-East).

Others are Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South), Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North),  Isa Misau (Bauchi Central), Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central), Soji Akanbi (Oyo South) and Usman Nafada (Gombe North).

Also on the list are Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central), Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi North), Olanrewaju Tejuosho (Ogun Central) and Abdulaziz Nyako (Adamawa Central).

Citing Section 68(1G) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the defectors said “we hereby inform the Senate that we, the undersigned are changing our political affiliation from All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP).

“We thank you for your exemplary leadership.”

They said that their action was after due consultation with their constituents and stakeholders in their constituencies.

Reacting to the development, Senate Leader, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, said “the APC, our party certainly has its own internal challenges.

“But, Mr President, we all know how much effort he and other stakeholders have put into addressing the issues that bedevil this party.

“The disagreements do not translate into factions. I therefore feel that our senators of the APC do not have to move to any other party.

“I also believe that because the issues are under serious discussions by the major stakeholders of this party, I will urge that the announcement be quarantined.

“Very seriously, this matter should be stepped down until we exhaust all the opportunities,” Lawan said.

In his remarks, Saraki said “as you know and have seen that the seat beside you is empty.

“As we speak, the Deputy Senate President cannot get out of his house.

“He is under siege. This morning, I could not also leave my street as well, all by efforts of some people that believe that today’s sitting must not hold because some members want to move or defect.

“It is not something that has started today; it will not end today; people have gone, they’ve come back.

“But this kind of action does not allow for what you are saying.

“You are speaking as the leader of the Senate, who has been here for many years.”

Meanwhile, members of the PDP in the House of Representatives celebrated on Tuesday as news of the defection of 15 senators from the ruling APC to the PDP was announced.

Earlier, the PDP lawmakers, who converged on the lobby of the National Assembly, vowed not to allow a leadership change in the Senate.

Some of them even threatened to break into the Senate Chamber to forcefully stall any attempt to change the leadership of the Red Chamber.

However, as soon as news filtered from the Senate about the defection of 15 senators into the opposition party, the PDP Reps broke into dancing, singing “ooo my home, oooo my home, when shall I see my home.”

They also chanted “Dogara Dogara Dogara” to welcome the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

Apparently to stop the day’s proceedings at the Senate, the residences of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu were on Tuesday morning besieged by security operatives.

While Saraki’s residence was cordoned off by the Police, the residence of Ekweremadu was under siege by security operatives and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

As at the time of filing the report, reasons for the siege were not known.

Calls made to the Special Adviser to Saraki on Media, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu were not successful as his line was busy.

Saraki was invited yesterday by the police to answer to allegations against him in connection to the Offa, Kwara State robbery.

However, confirming the siege on Sen. Ekweremadu’s residence, the Special Adviser to Ekweremadu in a telephone interview, said the residence was under siege.

“The house of the DSP(Deputy Senate President) is presently surrounded by DSS, and EFCC operatives,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the media adviser to Senator Bukola Saraki ,said on his twitter account that the residence of his principal was blocked by the police Tuesday morning.

He also claimed the house of deputy senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has also been surrounded by DSS agents.

However, security agents have not spoken on why the actions were taken.

The convoy was about to leave the house at about 7am when the police arrived.

“When the convoy was cleared to go at about 7.30 a.m, some police vehicles trailed it up to the National Assembly complex.”

NAN recalls that Saraki had been invited by the Inspector General of Police to report at 8a.m Tuesday at Guzape Police station to give further statement on the multiple robbery incidents that occurred in Offa, Kwara, on 5 April, in which 31 people were killed.

Some of the suspects arrested had alleged that they are working for Saraki as thugs used by the politician to cow opponents.

In a letter sent to Saraki on Monday night, Idris asked him to make himself available to the head of the Investigation Team at the Intelligence Response Team at Guzape Junction, Asokoro Extension, Abuja at 8a.m.

The police had on June 4 asked for Saraki’s reaction to the statement made by some of the suspects arrested in connection to the most deadly robbery in the history of Nigeria. Saraki wrote a statement dated June 7.

Idris ruled the statement inadequate.

“After a careful perusal of your letter to the Police, it was discovered that the statement requires further clarification and coupled with the fact that you stated that the full text of the statements of the suspects were not shown to you, it is imperative you report to the Police to make further statements after giving you the full text of the statements of the suspects.

“It is in line with the above that you are requested to report to the head of the Investigation Team at the Intelligence Response Team at Guzape Junction, Asokoro Extension, Abuja on 24th of July, 2018 at 8a.m for further investigation on the matter.”

In a response last night, Saraki described the invitation as a mere afterthought which was designed to achieve the political purpose of stopping the defection of Senators.

This followed a motion by Sen. Chukwuka Utazi at plenary on Tuesday.

He said that the siege was a violation of the right of Ekweremadu, explaining that “this morning I left Enugu for Abuja to attend today’s sitting.

“Half way to the airport, I heard a distress call from the aides working with the Deputy Senate President that his residence and the entire street had been cordoned off and nobody can move out of the house.

“As I am talking now, the people of Enugu State resident in Abuja have moved to his house and they are there shouting in the rain for his release.

“What offence has he committed that would warrant his wife and children to be denied freedom to go about their duties.

“People are worried. We want to know what he has done.

“Some people told me that they heard some people want to defect today and because of that they don’t want him to come to the sitting.

“I also heard that they don’t want the senate president to come so that both presiding officers will not be here but thank God that the Senate President is in this place,” he said.

The lawmaker prayed the senate to demand that Ekweremadu’s residence be vacated.

Supporting the motion, Sen. Sam Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) said the development was a threat to democracy.

He said, “I was with Ekweremadu yesterday and there was no notice from the Police. I wonder why his house is under siege today.

“If he is still wanted they should invite him and he will respond.

“There will be tomorrow. No matter the intimidation my confidence in you and Ekweremadu is renewed and we must protect this institution,” he told Saraki.

Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP-Taraba) said it was not only a threat to democracy but to the unity of the country.

“It is with a heavy heart I rise to contribute to this. This is not only threatening, but the unity of the country and we need to thread with caution. What is happening has never happened.

“When I heard of the siege I became afraid.
We need prayers and we have to stand up as statesmen. It is about the institution and the matter is beyond political party but the threat on democracy.

“I advise that security operatives should know they are meant to protect us and no country has used violence to settle matters.

“We can pack our things and go and those trying to dent the image of the president should be careful,” he said.

In his reaction, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said there was also a siege to his house at the early hours of Tuesday.

He said he was meant to report to the Police on account of invitation to answer to alleged involvement in a robbery case in Offa some months ago but could not do that.

Saraki said there would not have been plenary if he had gone to the Police, given the fact that Ekweremadu was prevented from leaving his house.

“Ekweremadu cannot come out for no fault of his and by the plan I wouldn’t have been here as well.

“It was the intervention of Almighty God that I am here today.

“The deputy senate president called me that he was blocked from coming out. Even my convoy was blocked,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate has adjourned plenary for members’ annual vacation. They will resume on Sept. 26. 

 

 

 

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