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 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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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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The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has vowed to resist any attempt by the Federal Government to subvert the rule of law and denigrate the institution of the National Assembly.

 

National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, made the vow against the backdrop of an alleged attempt to reconvene the National Assembly.

 

Prince Secondus said the move was allegedly intended to impeach the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

 

 

Prince Secondus was speaking at the National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP at the Wadata House in Abuja.

 

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, also attended the PDP NEC meeting.

 

 

Reports say Senator Saraki was greeted on arrival at the National Secretariat of the PDP in Abuja with a loud ovation, with the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, on ground to usher him into the meeting.

 

One of the highlights of the PDP NEC meeting was the symbolic recognition of Senator Saraki as the leader of the opposition party, technically replacing Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as the highest ranking public office holder in the party.

 

Senator Saraki later made a post on his Facebook page, saying it was great to be back at the Wadata House for the PDP NEC meeting, and that he felt very much at home.

 

Meanwhile; a former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume has alluded that the National Assembly could be reconvened under extraneous circumstances in the national interest.

 

Senator Ndume gave this indication while responding to questions during an interview on a television program monitored from Port Harcourt.

 

 

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APC CONTINUES TO LOSE MEMBERS TO PDP

Thursday, 02 August 2018 09:12

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has now lost three states governors to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

 

The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, completes the number, as he joins Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

 

Governor Tambuwal announced his defection to PDP at the Government House in Sokoto metropolis, while addressing hundreds of his supporters who trooped out to show their solidarity with him.

 

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives also took to twitter to shed more light on his decision, which he said was done after wide consultations and the assurance of the people of Sokoto State.

 

Similarly; the National Public Secretary of the APC, Bolaji Abdullahi has ended speculations about his political fate with a formal announcement of his resignation from the National Working Committee of the ruling party and his defection to the opposition PDP.

 

In a statement released, Abdullahi, who is an ally of the Senate President, said he took the decision in view of recent political development in the country.

 

Abdullahi noted that in the last few days, he had witnessed what he called flagrant usurpation of his role as spokesman for the ruling party, which he was inconsistent with ethical standards.

 

He also frowned at the decision by the National Working Committee of the APC to dissolve the Kwara State Executive Committee of the party without seeking his views as a member of that body.

 

The former Minister of Youth and Sports accused the APC of rejecting that political group he belongs, adding that as such, he no longer feel justified to remain as a member of the party.

 

Twenty-three of the twenty-four members of the Kwara State House of Assembly are also reported to have dumped the APC for the PDP.

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OSHIOMHOLE CALLS FOR SARAKI’S RESIGNATION

Thursday, 02 August 2018 08:58

 

 

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has called for the resignation of Senator Bukola SarakI as President of the Nigerian Senate.

 

OshiomhoLE made the call while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

This followed the defection of Senator SARAKI from the ruling APC to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

 

Oshiomhole said the Senate President should as a matter of honour leave the crown in the house where it belongs.

 

Reports say some APC Senators, including the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, also attended the meeting with the President Buhari.

 

In the meantime; the National Working Committee of the APC has appointed Yekini Nabena to replace Bolaji Abdullahi as Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party.

 

This followed the resignation of Abhullahi and subsequent defection to the PDP, which he announced in a statement yesterday.

 

Abdullahi, who is an ally of the Senate President, said he took the decision in view of recent political development in the country, adding that in the last few days, he had witnessed flagrant usurpation of his role as spokesman for the ruling party, which he said was inconsistent with ethical standards.

 

He also frowned at the decision by the National Working Committee of the APC to dissolve the Kwara State Executive Committee of the party without seeking his views as a member of that body.

 

The former Minister of Youth and Sports accused the APC of rejecting that political group he belongs, adding that as such, he no longer feel justified to remain as a member of the party.

 

Twenty-three of the twenty-four members of the Kwara State House of Assembly are also reported to have dumped the APC for the PDP.

 

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SARAKI’S DEFECTION UPDATE

Wednesday, 01 August 2018 11:46

Details are merging on the circumstances surrounding the defection of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

 

Senator Saraki said to leave the APC was not a decision that he made lightly, stressing that he had waited for so long and did all that was humanly possible, even in the face of great provocation, ridicule and flagrant persecution, to give opportunity for peace, reconciliation and harmonious existence.

 

In a lengthy statement detailing his reasons for leaving, Senator Saraki mentioned that certain elements and forces within the APC had ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist within the party.

 

Saraki recalled that when he joined other politicians in 2014 to leave the PDP for the newly formed APC at the time, it was in a quest for justice, equity and inclusion; which the PDP then had deviated from.

 

But looking back four years after, the Kwara State-born politician said it was now evident that the PDP had learnt more from its defeat in the 2015 elections than the APC appeared to have learnt from its victory.

 

Senator Saraki said while presiding over the Senate as President and Chairman of the National Assembly, he had ensured that the tension between the arms of government did not escalate in such a way as to encumber Executive function or undermine the independence of the legislature.

 

Senator Saraki defected to the PDP with some of his allies, including the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

 

However; the fate of the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Bolaji Abdulahi, who was also purported to have joined Senator Saraki to defect to PDP, remains unclear.

 

Reports’ emerging indicates that the National Working Committee of the APC was considering the expulsion of Senator Bukola Saraki before the Senate President announced his defection to PDP yesterday.

 

Part of steps already taken by the APC’s NWC to prepare the ground for Senator Saraki’s expulsion was the dissolution of the Kwara State Executive Committee of the party.

 

It was also gathered that the Senate President had been served a query yesterday over alleged anti-party activities, of which he was required to respond to within forty-eight hours.

 

According to report citing a resolution signed by the National Secretary of APC, Mai Maila Buni, Saraki was alleged to have breached Article Twenty-One of the APC Constitution and required to explain why disciplinary action should not to be taken against him.

 

The accusations against Senator Saraki include the delayed screening of nominees for appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari and allegedly sponsoring a public rally where his supporters urged him to decamp to PDP.

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