The Onijegun of Ijegun, Oba Nureini Olomitutu, said on Friday that activities of vandals and other criminals were threatening lives in the area.
He spoke when members of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Pipeline Vandalism visited his palace in Lagos.
The committee, led by Sen. Ibrahim Gobir, was in the Ijegun area on an investigative visit, over the July 4 pipeline explosion in which lives were lost and properties destroyed.
Olomitutu called on the government to provide more security around pipelines to end such problem.
”We are tired of disasters. We don’t want to be known for this kind of thing anymore.
“We want the government and the NNPC to provide more security here to check these criminals,” the monarch said.
Explaining the reason for their visit to the monarch, Gobir said the committee was in the area to see how the activities of vandals could be checked and pipelines made secure, to end losses.
He said the committee had also visited Rivers on Thursday, where it was also investigating cases of pipeline vandalism.
The committee chairman thanked the monarch for the reception, promising that the committee would do its best to end the problem.
Sen. Olamilekan Adeola (Lagos West) led the committee members, who also include Sen. George Sekibo, Sen. Mohammed Musa and Sen. Hassan Lawali to the palace.
Earlier, the ad-hoc committee promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the July 4 pipeline explosion.
Gobir, speaking after the committee members had gone round the affected areas, described the incident as unfortunate.
He said the senate was devastated by the incident, in which lives were lost and properties destroyed.
The committee chairman said it was out of the deep concern about the incident that senate plenary, on Wednesday, mandated the committee to probe the incident.
Gobir promised that the committee would do a thorough job to find lasting solutions.
The committee chairman condemned vandalism of pipelines by criminals and called on residents of Ijegun to be vigilant with a view to checking their activities.
”Our main purpose here is to investigate the cause of this problem and find a lasting solution to pipeline vandalism, not only in Ijegun, but across the federation.
”Our concern is to put a stop to these destructions wherever it would occur; after this visit, solution will be proffered.
”But we have to be vigilant ourselves. We have to make sure we are our brother’s keeper.
“We have to find out who is trying to vandalise pipelines and report to security agencies.
”It is very unfortunate that this kind of incident happened because of vandalization of pipelines.
“We will carry out our work thoroughly to put an end to this kind of tragedy,” he said.
Gobir expressed condolences of the senate with the people of the community and prayed for the peaceful repose of those who lost their lives.
Adeola (Lagos West), who took committee members round, decried the incessant cases of pipeline explosion in Ijegun and neighbouring areas.
He said that many people in the area had lost their lives and valuables to pipeline explosion caused by the activities of vandals.
Adeola described the latest incident as devastating, saying he moved a motion on the floor of the senate on a compelling need for action to end the menace.
”This is the second time we are experiencing this kind of tragedy in this area. The first one was around Jakande and people died too.
”As the senator representing Alimosho, under which is Ijegun, I moved a motion on the floor of the senate for urgent action to put an end to the problem.
”The senate immediately mandated this committee to probe the incident and that is why they are here to have first-hand information about the problem.
”I am appealing to the committee to do its best to ensure we have solutions to the problem.
”I am also appealing to the government to do their best for the development of Ijegun.” he said.
Adeola commended the state government for its efforts at giving succour to the people who were affected one way or the other in the incident.
The senator thanked members of the committee for the visit and urged Ijegun residents to be vigilant and report suspicious activities around pipelines to security agencies.
He promised to be with the people at all times and respond to the needs of his constituency.
Tag: Senators
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Explosion: We don't want to be known for disasters, Ijegun monarch tells visiting Senate committee
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ICPC vows to probe Senators, Reps who fail to execute constituency projects
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Tuesday said senators and members of the House of Representatives who failed to execute constituency projects will be prosecuted.
Also, all companies engaged for the failed or abandoned projects will face trial.
But the commission, however, opposed to plea bargain by corrupt elements because the nation’s laws allow it.
Over N1trillion has been released by the Federal Government for constituency projects since 1999. The funds include the N200 billion by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2017.
More than 2,345 senators and representatives have benefitted from constituency projects since 1999.
About 37 per cent to 40 per cent of the projects have either been completed or ongoing in the last 20 years.
Many senators and representatives were found to have diverted the funds, using their personal companies. Some abandoned the projects.
Of the 2,516 projects tracked by BudgIT Nigeria between 2015 and 2017, 918 were not done, 395 are ongoing and 214 cannot be located.
The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, yesterday said the anti-graft commission had demanded a list of all constituency projects and presented budgets to make senators and representatives account for the funds they got.
Owasanoye, who spoke at the launch of Constituency Projects Tracking Group (CPTG), said ICPC will also publish the names of those behind the project failures.
The tracking will cover outgoing senators and Representatives in the 8th National Assembly.
He said ICPC was collaborating with the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to evaluate whether or not the projects executed were commensurate with the budgetary allocations.
The ICPC chairman said: “We are mindful of the fact that this is a Herculean task as constituency projects dot the entire landscape but we will overcome the challenges one way or another.
“Where contractors and or politically-exposed persons have diverted funds for projects, we will pursue them to either complete the projects as initiated, return the funds or face prosecution.
“Affected companies and their directors will also be prosecuted. We also hope to publish the names of those behind the project failures for possible social sanctions in their communities.”
Owasanoye regretted that constituency projects had been turned into avenues of corruption.
He added: “Constituency projects are intended for developmental projects, such as provision of water, rural electrification, rural clinics, schools, community centres and bursary for indigent students.
“In the light of annual budgetary allocations to constituency projects and based on actual releases by the government, it is firmly believed that the impact of constituency projects on the lives of ordinary Nigerians ought to be more visible.
“Regrettably, available statistics from open sources paint a bleak picture of the level of performance or delivery of constituency projects.
“Over the years, constituency projects have become enmeshed in controversy among non-state actors, the promoters of the projects and the communities that are supposed to benefit from the projects.
“The concern is that in Nigeria, rather than address the needs of constituents; many constituency projects have become avenues of corruption.”
Owasanoye gave some three-year statistics which revealed how senators and Representatives have paid lip service to constituency projects.
He said: “The level of implementation of constituency projects in 16 focus states for 2015 is revealing. Out of 436 constituency projects for the year that were tracked, 145 were completed, 77 ongoing while 211 were not executed at all.
“For 2016, out of a total of 852 constituency projects in 20 states in the 2016 Budget that were tracked, 350 were completed, 118 were ongoing, 41 locations not specified in the budget and 343 not done or performed.
“In 2017, a total of 1,228 constituency projects in the budget were tracked for performance as at June 2018. Out of these, 478 were completed, 173 in unspecified location, 200 ongoing, 13 abandoned and 364 not started. The level of performance of constituency projects is therefore disputable.”
The ICPC chairman unfolded plans to collaborate with the media and Civil Society Organisations to fight corruption.
But he warned against reckless whistleblowing and declared that the commission will deal with anyone who misleads it.
He said: “We hope to have a robust relationship with the media and civil society. Not just in Constituency Project Monitoring and role of CSOs and media as partners in giving credible intelligence and evidence of corruption rather than generalised accusations or allegations of wrongdoing but specifics that help to make investigation seamless.
“We also want to caution CSOs to avoid misleading ICPC with intelligence that have no foundation in the name of whistleblowing. We have had one or two experiences of reckless and irresponsible allegations of wrongdoing against prominent citizens provided by CSOs.
“But for the cautious approach of the commission, the outcomes would have been embarrassing. We want to say loud and clear that there will be dire consequences in accordance with the law for anyone that misleads the commission.”
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Buhari hosts APC Governors, Senators-elect to a dinner
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night hosted State Governors and Senators-elect of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a dinner at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those in attendance included the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiohmole; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and other presidential aides.
The governors of Kogi, Jigawa, Oyo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Osun and Lagos were also in attendance.
The Senators-elect at the event included all those who had directly or indirectly indicated interest to contest for the seat of President of the Senate in the 9th National Assembly.
Prominent among the prospective contestants for the Senate leadership are Ahmed Lawan, Danjuma Goje and Ali Ndume all from Northeast zone of the country and Abdullahi Adamu from the North Central zone.
NAN reliably gathered that the APC zoning formula for the election of a new Senate President for the 9th National Assembly maybe part of the issues to be deliberated upon at the dinner.
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INEC presents certificates of return to 102 elected senators, 338 Reps today
Winners in the February 23 National Assembly elections are to get certificates of return (CoR) today by at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 102 senators-elect will get their certificates by 10am and 338 would-be House of Representatives members will be issued theirs by 2pm.
Going by the list of candidates, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 63 senators, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 38 and Youth Progressives Party (YFP) has a seat.
Seven seats have been declared inconclusive and will be contested for during the supplementary election slated for March 23.
For the lower chamber, the ruling party also has the majority with 211 members. The PDP has 111 members.
Other political parties share the remaining 16 seats -APGA (six); African Democratic Congress (ADC), three; Action Alliance (AA) two and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), two. African Democratic Party (ADP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have one slot each.
Twenty-two seats are still up for grabs where elections were declared inconclusive. Make-up polls in the affected Federal Constituencies (excluding in Rivers State) have been fixed for March 23.
Elections were suspended in Rivers State for INEC to review. The process that has been wracked by protests.
The two major parties – APC and PDP – will be slugging it out in six states where elections were declared inconclusive. They are: Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and Benue.
SOKOTO
There are 526,892 votes to be contested for in the six states. In Sokoto, where Governor Aminu Waziri of the PDP, who scored 489, 588, was leading with 3,413 votes, the two leading parties will battle for 75,493 votes in 136 polling units in 22 local government areas. The APC candidate, Aliyu Sokoto, was trailing with 486, 145 votes before the process was declared inconclusive.
ADAMAWA
Before the process was declared inconclusive in Adamawa, the PDP, with 367,471 votes as against APC’s 334,995, was leading by 32,476 votes. The candidates of the two parties have 40,998 votes to fight for. Incumbent Governor Jibrilla of the APC and his challenger PDP Umar Fintiri will be slugging it out on March 23.
In Bauchi, it was too close to call. The PDP candidate Bala Muhammed was leading the APC candidate, Governor Mohammed Abubakar with 4,059. There are 139,240 votes to decide the winner. After the first ballot, the PDP had 469,512 and the APC got 465,453.
BENUE
Governor Samuel Ortom of the PDP, who got 410, 576, was ahead in Benue with 81,554 votes. He will be slugging it out with his APC challenger Emmanuel Jime for 121, 011 votes. Jime got 329, 022 at the close of the first ballot.
PLATEAU
In Plateau, incumbent Governor Simon Lalong of the APC got 583, 255 to lead Senator Jeremiah Useni of the PDP with 44,929 votes. Useni got 538, 326. The duo will be fighting for the outstanding 49,377 votes.
KANO
There are 100, 873 votes to decide who wins the election. The PDP, with 1,014,474 votes, was leading the APC, which got 987, 810, with 26,664 votes.
As at the time of filing this report, the Commission has not received the report from the investigative panel it raised on the disruption of the electoral process in Rivers State.
Though the committee, which was given 48 hours to turn in its report, has not been able to do so as a result of many factors, it has, however, met with critical stakeholders in the state, including the governor and other governorship candidates.
The committee was set up on Sunday to review the situation that led to the disruption of the electoral process. Going by the 48-hour time lag given, the panel ought to have submitted its report on Tuesday.
It was learnt last night that the panel was “wrapping” up its assignment.
The commission had suspended collation and announcement of results, citing electoral violence and safety of its workers. It therefore raised a fact-finding committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.
Responding to an inquiries on a possible reason for the delay, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said the committee may have been bogged down by flight delays and other factors.
He, however, assured that “immediately the committee turns in its report, the commission will take a decision in respect of Rivers State”.
Meanwhile, INEC has debriefed all accredited observers on the last polls.
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Meet returning, new senators for 9th Senate
…As APC clinches majority with 61, PDP 33, YPP 1
•11 seats yet to be declared •Three inconclusive
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is on its way to dorminate the incoming Ninth Senate judging by the list of winners announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Already, the APC has 61 seats. The number will give the APC numerical strength in the Red Chamber. It will also enjoy a simple majority.
It will, however, not afford the APC the luxury of a two-third majority in the upper chamber.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won 33 of the seats announced as at the close of yesterday. The Young Progressive Party (YPP) won a senatorial seat in Anambra State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election in four senatorial districts inconclusive. It was yet to announce the results from 11 senatorial zones as at the time of going to press last night.
There are 109 seats in the upper chamber of the National Assembly. They are made up of three senators from each of the 36 states. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has one slot.
The APC won all the 20 of the 21 slots from the Northwest which has 21 slots. The result of the remaining zone was yet to be declared as at yesterday.
It won in 13 of the 18 slots in the Southwest. The PDP clinched three seats and the election in the other two senatorial zones was declared inconclusive by the electoral umpire.
Also in the Northeast, the APC clinched 13 slots. The PDP won three. One was inconclusive.
In the Southsouth, the PDP won 15 of the 18 senatorial seats, leaving two to the APC. One was yet to be declared.
The PDP won seven seats in the Southeast. The APC took two. The results from four were yet to be declared and one inconclusive. The YPP won one slot.
In the Northcentral, the APC won 10 seats as against PDP’s four. The results from three districts were yet to be declared and one was inconclusive.
See comprehesive list of the returning/new senators for the ninth senate
SOUTH WEST
- LAGOS
Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Central) – APC
Senator Adeola Solomon (West) – APC
Bayo Oshinowo (East) – APC
- EKITI
Prince Dayo Adeyeye (South) – APC
Opeyemi Bamidele (Central) – APC
Bunmi Adetunbi (North) – APC
- OYO
Kolawole Balogun (South) – PDP
Teslim Folarin (Central) – APC
Abdulfatah Buhari (North) – APC
- OSUN
Ajibolan Bashiru (Osun) – APC
Adelere Orilowo (West) – APC
Francis Fadahunsi (East) – PDP
- ONDO
Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice (North) APC
(South) – Incoclusive
Ayo Akinyelure (Central) PDP
- OGUN
Ibikunle Amosun (Central) – APC
Tolu Odebiyi (West) – APC
Lekan Mustapha (East) – APC
NORTHWEST
- KANO
Malam lbrahim Shekarau (Central) APC
Alhaji Kabuki lbrahim Gaya (South) APC
Mallam Barau Jibrin (North) APC
- KADUNA
Uba Sani (Central) APC
Suleiman Abdu Kwari (North) APC
Danjuma La’ah (South) APC
- KATSINA
Kabir Barkiya (Central) APC
Bello Mandiya (South) APC
Ahmed Baba-Kaita (North) APC
- GOMBE
Danjuma Goje (Central) APC
Saidu Alkali (North) APC
Amos Bunus (South) APC
- JIGAWA
Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia (Northeast) APC
Danladi Sankara (Northwest) APC
Senator Muhammed Sabo Naku (Central) APC
- SOKOTO
Aliyu Wamakko (North) APC
Abdulahi Ibrahim Gobir (East) APC
Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal (South) APC
- ZAMFARA
Abdulaziz Yari (West) APC
Tijani Yahaya Kawa (North) APC
Yet-to-be (announced) Central
- KEBBI
Ibn Na’Allah (South) APC
Adamu Aliero (Central) APC
Yaya Abdulahi (North) APC
NORTH EAST:
- ADAMAWA
Aishatu Dairu Binani (Central) APC
Ishaku Cliff (North) PDP
Bino Yero (South) PDP
- BAUCHI
Haliru Jiga (Central) APC
Lawal Yahya (South) APC
Court to decide candidate (North) APC
- BORNO
Kashim Shettima (Central) APC
Ali Ndume (South) APC
Abubakar Kyari (North) APC
- TARABA
Emmanuel Bwacha (South) PDP
Two yet to be announced
- YOBE
Ibrahim Gaidam (East) APC
Ibrahim Bomoi (South) APC
Ahmed Lawan (North) APC
SOUTH EAST:
- ABIA
Theodore Orji (Central) PDP
Orji Uzor Kalu (North) APC
Yet to be declared (South)
- ANAMBRA
Ifeanyi Uba (South) YPP
Two others yet to be declared
- EBONYI
Sam Egwu (North) PDP
Michael Ama Nnachi (South) PDP
Obinna Ogba (Central) PDP
- ENUGU
Ike Ekweremadu (West) PDP
Chimaroke Nnamani (East) PDP
Chuka Utazi (North) PDP
- IMO
Rochas Okorocha (West) APC
North (inconclusive)
East (yet to be declared)
SOUTHSOUTH
- AKWA IBOM
Bassey Albert (North East) PDP
Christopher Ekpeyong (Northwest) PDP
Akon Eyak (South) PDP
- BAYELSA
Donye Diri (Central) PDP
Lawrence Ewrujakpor (West) PDP
East (yet to be announced)
- CROSS RIVER
Dr Sandy Onor (Central) PDP
Senator Rose Oko (North) PDP
Senator Gershom Bassey (South) PDP
- RIVERS
Thompson George Sekibo (East) PDP
Betty Apiafi (West) PDP
Parry Mpigi (South-East) PDP
- DELTA
James Manager (South) PDP
Ovie Omo-Agege (Central) APC
Peter Nwaobochi (North) PDP
- EDO
Mathew Urhoghide (South) PDP
Clifford Ordia (Central) PDP
Framcis Alimikkhena (North) APC
NORTH CENTRAL
- BENUE
Orker Jev (Northwest) PDP
Abba Moro( ) PDP
Gabriel Suswam ( ) PDP
- KOGI
Oseni Yakubu (Central) APC
East (inconclusive)
Dino Melaye (West) PDP
- KWARA
Oloriegbe Yahya Ibrahim (Central) APC
Lola Ashiru (South) APC
Umar Sadiq (North) APC
- NASARAWA
Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (South) APC
Senator Abdullahi Adamu (West) APC
Godiya Akwashiki (North) APC
- NIGER
Aliyu Shabi Abdullah (North) APC
Mohammed Bima (South) APC
Mohammed Sani Musa (East) APC
- PLATEAU
Not yet announced
- FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY
Philip Aduda (PDP)
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9th Senate: Crowning former governors who are cabals as South-East Senators
From Jonas Ike, Abuja
The coast is now very clear for the former governors who are cabals in the South-East region of Nigeria to be Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These are political gladiators and titans who have been angling for a place in the Nigerian Senate for a very long time to actualize their dreams of self actualization in the apex legislature- National Assembly.
From the results declared so far by the nations electoral umpire- the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the South-East cabals have taken over the 9th Senate, the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly.
According to elite theorist Vifred Pareto and Gateano Mosca from time immemorial from countries ofbthe world ranging from ones that are least developed to the most advanced and sophisticated societies, two classes of people exist.
The first class of people monopolises power, performs political functions and determine allocation of societal values. The second class of people are led by the first in a manner that is less human and uncivilized to the point that is now called the iron ore of oligarchy.
So far INEC has declared former governors of Abia State Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Mr Theordore Orji who is successor to Kalu, former governor of Enugu State Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, former governor of Ebonyi State Dr. Sam Egwu and incumbent governor of Imo State Chief Rochas Okorocha as Senators elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Other political gladiators who have also won coveted seats at the senate include Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South) and Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) among others.
It is definitely going to be a clash of the titans as these former governors take over the 9th Senate along side the longest serving senator in Nigeria Sen. Dr.Ike Ekweremmadu who is the current Deputy President of the 8th Senate.
Ekweremmadu a lawyer who also won back his legislative seat under the ticket of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP is representing Enugu West Senatorial District of Enugu State in the National Assembly.
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2019: Senate spokesman, one other serving APC senator lose primaries in Niger
…as David Umaru Cries Foul
Two of the serving Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state, Barrister David Umaru and Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi have lost in the senatorial primaries held across the state on Tuesday.
Two time serving Senator David Umaru who is the Chairman, Senate committee on Judiciary and Human Rights lost the Niger East senatorial district to new entrant, Alhaji Sani Musa.
While in Niger north senatorial district, the Senate Spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi lost to the state serving Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affair, Alhaji Zakari Jikantoro.
However, Senator David Umaru who assessed newsmen on Wednesday claimed that the APC Senatorial Primaries was a sham as it was bedeviled with intimidation from thugs and votes buying.
He accused the State Working Committee of the party of skewing the election and rigging it in favour of a particular candidate expressing concern over the electoral fraud committed in the state.
“Thugs were used to beat up and chased away my supporters and disrupted voting. In many cases elections were not done but results were manufactured and announced. This is shame to APC and I condemned it in total”.
He called on the national chairman of the party to quickly intervene before strangers destroy the party which was formed on the principle of justice and fairness.
“I called on the National Chairman and those who mean well for the party to intervene and cancel the results of senatorial primaries in the state in order to save the party in the state”.
Also, in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial Primaries, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Gimba and former PDP Chairman in the state, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Enagi lost the primaries in their respective senatorial districts.
In Niger east senatorial district, legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ibrahim Isyaku emerged the party’s candidate after defeating three other candidates, in Niger south, former House of Representatives member, Alhaji Baba Shehu Agaie emerged the party’s flag bearer after defeating former Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Gimba and former PDP Chairman in the state, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Enagi, while in Niger North senatorial district, Mohammadu Sani Duba emerged the party candidate unopposed. -
Akpabio: Buhari using EFCC to intimidate PDP senators to defect, impeach Saraki – R-APC
…accuses FG of wooing senators with N50m
The Reformed All Progressives congress (R-APC) has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidating senators (especially those with pending cases) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to defect to APC.
The group also accused the APC government of trying to woo senators with N50 million to facilitate the removal of Senate President Bukola Saraki who recently defected from the APC.
Recall that a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and incumbent Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio is said to be meeting the leadership of APC to finalise plans to decamp. He also met with President Buhari in London on Sunday.
The rAPC made this known in a statement on Sunday by its publicity secretary, Kassim Afegbua.
It did not provide any evidence to back the claim.
“Part of the plot was to reach out to some PDP senators especially those who have EFCC queries in order to give them a clean bill of health once they defect to the APC. They also agreed to woo some senators with the sum of fifty million naira each.”
The group said the Nigerian constitution clearly states the procedure for electing and removing a senate president and this should be adhered to.
According to the rAPC, the APC plans to remove Mr Saraki by “hook or crook” for which a meeting was allegedly held at the residence of Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of APC.
“The disputed leadership of the APC, working in cahoot with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice coupled with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation have perfected their plans to apply Gestapo methods to forcefully unseat the senate president.
“A high-powered meeting of these persons was held at the Maitama residence of the disputed Chairman of the APC on Thursday, 2nd August, 2018 where they brainstormed on the possible ways to carry out their illegality.
“Senator Abdullahi Adamu has been penciled down to succeed Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki, amidst a host of other changes in the Senate’s principal officers. Once the Senate leadership is overthrown in a coup d’etat manner, the Senate will immediately consider the virement budget of the INEC and also approve the pending nominations in the Senate,” Afegbua wrote.
Part of the plot, according to the R-APC, is to get a “friendly Judge” to legalise the removal.
The APC however describes the allegations as false.
“It is a cry of a drowning man. Kassim Afegbua and his cohorts are trying to elicit sentiment and to make futile attempt to dent the integrity of the APC led government. The reason why most of them are defecting is because the President Buhari led administration is not sharing money which is the PDP philosophy.
“So this administration can not inject tax payers money into impeaching the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This is a serious government and not a dead party called the PDP,” the ruling party said in a statement by its spokesperson Yekini Nabena.
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Defections: 2 senators backtrack, meet Buhari in Aso Rock
Senators Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central) and Adesoji Akanbi from Oyo South who were reported to have joined the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday are back in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They were among the senators who met President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night at the Villa in Abuja, in a show of solidarity.
Tejuoso announced his return at the meeting between APC Senators and President Buhari at Aso Rock.
Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna, who has been blowing hot and cold about his political allegiance was also at the meeting, exchanging banters with his colleagues.
Other Senators at the meeting were: Adamu Aleiro, Bala Ibn Na-Allah, Aliyu Wammako, Ibrahim Gobir, Kabiru Marafa, Abu Ibrahim, Kabiru Gaya, Barau Jibrin, Abdullahi Gumel, Shehu Sani, Ahmed Lawan, , Ali Ndume, Abubakar Kyari, Baba Kaka Garbai, Aliyu Abdullahi, David Umaru, , Abdullahi Adamu, George Akume, Francis Alimekhina, Andrew Uchendu, Magnus Abe, Ovie Omo-Agege, John Enoh, Nelson Effiong, Andy Uba, Sunny Ugboji, Hope Uzodinma, Ben Uwajimogu, Yusuf Abubakar, Oluremi Tinubu, Gbenga Ashafa, Solomon Adeola, Tayo Alasoadura, , Soji Akanbi, Ajayi Boroffice, Yele Omogunwa, Fatima Rasaki, Olanrewaju Tejuoso, Yahaya Abdullahi.
With Tejuoso and Akanbi and Sani now firmly identifying with the APC, the party has now increased its majority in the Upper Chamber to 54, enough to dictate the direction of policy.
Akanbi had promptly denied defecting with fourteen Senators from the APC to the PDP in the Senate on Tuesday.
Akanbi affirmed he was still a member of the ruling APC.
The Senator, in the statement, said he was surprised that his name was mentioned among the name of the defectors by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, during the day’s plenary.
“It was to my great surprise to hear that my name was read among APC Senators defecting to PDP as announced on the floor of Senate Chamber by the Senate President.
“I remain an APC member and senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District Oyo State.”
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Defections: Saraki absent as Buhari meets ‘loyal’ APC senators in Aso Rock [Full List]
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night met with senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The meeting held inside the conference room in the office of the wife of the president at the State House villa, Abuja.
The meeting is coming a day after 15 senators dumped the party for the opposition.
About 42 Senators are attending the meeting with Mr Buhari, which is expected to discuss Tuesday’s defections.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is still a member of the APC is, however, not attending the meeting.
Below are the senators meeting with the president.
Adamu Aleiro,
Bala Ibn Na-Allah,
Aliyu Wamako,
Ibrahim Gobir,
Kabiru Marafa,
Abu Ibrahim,
Kabiru Gaya,
Barau Jibrin,
Abdullahi Gumel,
Shehu Sani,
Ahmed Lawan,
Ali Ndume,
Abubakar Kyari,
Baba Kaka Garbai,
Aliyu Abdullahi,
David Umaru, ,
Abdullahi Adamu,
George Akume,
Francis Alimekhina,
Andrew Uchendu,
Magnus Abe,
Ovie Omo-Agege,
John Enoh,
Nelson Effiong,
Andy Uba,
Sunny Ugboji,
Hope Uzodinma,
Ben Uwajimogu,
Yusuf Yusuf,
Oluremi Tinubu,
Gbenga Ashafa,
Solomon Adeola,
Tayo Alasoadura,
Soji Akanbi,
Ajayi Boroface,
Yele Omogunwa,
Fatima Rasaki,
Olanrewaju Tejuoso,
Yahaya Abdullahi.