The leadership of the Eighth National Assembly says it is not desperate to remain in office and will not hesitate to step aside once it seizes to enjoy two-thirds support of members.

 

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who doubles as Chairman of the National Assembly, made this declaration on behalf of the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

 

Addressing a world press conference on the foyer of the National Assembly, a day after a security siege on the legislative chamber, Senator Saraki commended lawmakers who stood up against the invasion by the DSS operatives, as well as the media and members of the public who spoke out against the incident.

 

Responding to questions from journalists after reading his address, Senator Saraki explained that the reason only PDP lawmakers where seen at the entrance to the National Assembly yesterday was because their APC counterparts where having a secret meeting elsewhere.

 

The Senate President claimed that the purported APC meeting was ostensibly to adopt strategies for a change of leadership of the National Assembly, but ended inconclusively yesterday.

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The leadership of the Eighth National Assembly says it is not desperate to remain in office and will not hesitate to step aside once it seizes to enjoy two-thirds support of members.

 

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who doubles as Chairman of the National Assembly, made this declaration on behalf of the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

 

Addressing a world press conference on the foyer of the National Assembly, a day after a security siege on the legislative chamber, Senator Saraki commended lawmakers who stood up against the invasion by the DSS operatives, as well as the media and members of the public who spoke out against the incident.

 

Responding to questions from journalists after reading his address, Senator Saraki explained that the reason only PDP lawmakers where seen at the entrance to the National Assembly yesterday was because their APC counterparts where having a secret meeting elsewhere.

 

The Senate President claimed that the purported APC meeting was ostensibly to adopt strategies for a change of leadership of the National Assembly, but ended inconclusively yesterday.

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The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, says the police was not part of the security blockade of the National Assembly, contrary to earlier reports.

 

IGP Idris gave this indication after a closed-door meeting with Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

 

He said he received information about the standoff at the National Assembly complex as a surprise.

 

Similarly; the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress has denied any role in the security siege on the National Assembly yesterday.

 

The ruling party, according to a statement released by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, also said its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole had nothing to do with the security blockade.

 

Nabena said the development at the National Assembly was strictly a legislative matter.

 

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The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, says the police was not part of the security blockade of the National Assembly, contrary to earlier reports.

 

IGP Idris gave this indication after a closed-door meeting with Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

 

He said he received information about the standoff at the National Assembly complex as a surprise.

 

Similarly; the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress has denied any role in the security siege on the National Assembly yesterday.

 

The ruling party, according to a statement released by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, also said its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole had nothing to do with the security blockade.

 

Nabena said the development at the National Assembly was strictly a legislative matter.

 

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The Presidency says it will not be part of any action that could destabilise the National Assembly.

 

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, gave this indication amidst speculations about underground moves to reconvene the Senate illegally.

 

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Senator Enang said the Presidency would continue to support the National Assembly to ensure that the Executive and the Legislature stay in peace.

 

However; Senator Enang appealed to the federal lawmakers to reconvene to attend to some issues that required their attention, including the 2018 supplementary budget.

 

Senator Enang also hinted that the government was at a risk of total shutdown if the National Assembly does not reconvene immediately.

 

He said among other things, the legislature needed to approve some pending foreign loans for the execution of capital budget tied to the 2018.

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WIKE CONDEMNS D.S.S AND PRESIDENCY

Tuesday, 07 August 2018 12:23

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has condemned the security blockade of the National Assembly.

 

Governor Wike therefore called on Nigerians to resist what he called an assault on the legislature and dictatorship by the APC-led Federal Government.

 

In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Governor Wike observed that the security siege on the National Assembly has the capacity to truncate Nigeria’s democracy.

 

Governor Wike encouraged the National Assembly members to stand firm in defence of the nation's democracy by resisting anti-democratic attempts against the parliament.

 

He also berated some state governors who appear happy with what is happening under the APC government, warning that they could face their turn tomorrow.

 

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Senator Godswill Akpabio has resigned his position as Minority Leader of the Senate of the Eighth National Assembly, to further fuel his anticipated defection from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

 

Senator Akpabio’s resignation letter, which was contained in his personal letterhead and also signed personally, was addressed to the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmaunel Bwacha.

 

In a copy of the letter circulated to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media, Anietie Ekong, Senator Akpabio thanked the leadership of the Senate, all his colleagues and the PDP for the opportunity to lead the PDP Caucus in the chamber over the past three years.

 

Senator Akpabio’s letter was also copied to the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Clerk of the Senate, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and the National Chairman of the PDP, among others.

 

The letter dated 4th of August has only surfaced after Senator’s Akpabio’s second meeting with the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari who is on vacation in London over the weekend.

 

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, had also over the weekend confirmed that Senator Akpabio would be received into the APC at a ceremony in Akwa Ibom State tomorrow.

 

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DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF KANO STATE RESIGNS

Monday, 06 August 2018 11:44

 

From Kano State; we have a report indicating that the State Government no longer has a Deputy Governor, following the resignation of Hafiz Abubakar.

 

Abubakar announced his resignation in a letter addressed to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; a couple of days after his defection from the All Progressives Congress to the People’s Democratic Party.

 

Abubakar said he took the decision because of disrespect of his office and unjust treatment by Governor Ganduje.

 

He said for two and a half years, he had endured immeasurable and unjustifiable humiliation without any reason other than his principled position on the issues of governance and the desire to keep the government on track.

 

His resignation also comes a day after thirty members of the State House of Assembly endorsed an impeachment notice against him.

 

But before his resignation; Hafiz Abubakar had complained to the police and State Security Service over threat to his life and plans by the state government to stage a rally against him.

 

Following the latest development; the State Governor convened a meeting with the leadership of the State House of Assembly and other senior members of the APC ostensibly to produce a new Deputy Governor.

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AKWA IBOM DEFECTION UPDATE

Monday, 06 August 2018 11:38

 

The fate of the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Moses Ekpo, is shrouded in speculations, as defections and counter-defections hit the two major political parties in Nigeria, ahead of the 2019 general election.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria circulated a report yesterday, suggesting that Moses Ekpo has dumped the People’s Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress, but that has not been confirmed or denied.

 

The agency’s report made reference to a twitter post by an APC affiliated platform and a local online site, suggesting that EKPO’s move was part of the speculated defection of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, from PDP to APC.

 

Our correspondent learnt from a Government House source in Uyo that the Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor travelled to the United States of America to represent Governor Udom Emmanuel at an event, while his Chief Press Secretary cannot be reached on phone.

 

However; another contact close to our correspondent in Uyo indicated that at least six aides of Governor Udom, who are thought to be loyal to Senator Akpabio, have already signalled their resignations.

 

Meanwhile; Senator Akpabio has visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London where he is spending ten days on vacation.

 

However; there are no details of Senator Akpabio’s reason for visiting President Buhari while on vacation, but the development has sparked speculations of an impending defection of the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State from PDP to APC.

 

Before travelling to London, Senator Akpabio is also reported to have held a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, as well as visited the APC national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Lagos.

 

The rumour was reinforced through a statement credited to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, signaling that Senator Akpabio would be received into the APC on Wednesday this week.

 

In the meantime; Senator Godswill Akpabio is reported to have lost the services of at least four of his personal aides on account of the rumour about his planned defection from PDP to APC.

 

They include Senator AKPABIO’s Senior Legislative Aide, Utibe Nwoko, as well as Chief Moses Akpan, Kufre Ini-Ima, and Prince Ukandu Ukpe.

 

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Emmauel Udom, Aniekeme Finbarr, disclosed in a post on his Facebook that the men announced their resignation during a meeting of PDP stakeholders of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, which was held in Abak.

 

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Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has secured a formal term of office after being declared winner of the presidential election on Monday.

 

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced that with results of all ten provinces declared, Mnangagwa polled fifty point eight percent of votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the main opposition MDC alliance, Nelson Chamisa, who scored forty-four point three percent.

 

However; the result has been rejected by the MDC, while President Mnangagwa posted on twitter that he was humbled by his victory and promised a new beginning.

 

Reports from the capital say police were called in to remove opposition officials from the electoral commission stage when they rejected the results.

 

There has been rising tension in Zimbabwe after the results for parliamentary elections were declared and the presidential election results initially delayed, which triggered violence, with troops deployed on the streets and six people killed.

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