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Tag: PDP senators

  • Senate Presidency: Goje, Ndume, Lawan lobby PDP senators

    Senate presidential aspirants Danjuma Goje, Ali Ndume and Ahmed Lawan have intensified their lobbying of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators, ahead of the election of principal officers of the National Assembly.

    The three All Progressives Congress (APC) senators intensified their consultations with the PDP caucus, following official clearance by the party leadership.

    Goje, Ndume and Lawan are from the Northeast, underscoring the affirmation of the zoning of the number three position to the region.

    However, despite the zoning, there is no consensus on the selection of likely beneficiary among senators from the zone.

    Although the APC national chairman,   Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that the ruling party should produce the key officers of the Senate, there is an understanding that the numerical strength of the PDP senators is a factor in the election.

    The APC has 65 senators-elect, but their ranks are divided, owing to their antagonistic positions over the party’s endorsement of Dr. Lawan as the anointed candidate.

    Although PDP has 43 senators-elect, parliamentary sources said they are more United, and hence, likely to produce a bloc vote.

    Although the Young Progressive Party (YPP) has a senator, Ifeanyi Ubah, the lone senator has been gravitating towards the APC’s direction. He accompanied Lawan to Lagos during his consultative visit to the Southwest.

    The three aspirants have appointed contact persons to open talks with PDP lawmakers for the purpose of strategic collaboration, ahead of the poll.

    However, the sources cannot confirm whether monetary inducement will be a weapon of lobbying as the lawmakers warn up for the crucial in-house election.

    A source said the antecedents of Goje and Ndume, who were defectors from the PDP, has enhanced their consultations with the PDP caucus.

    Although Lawan has never associated with PDP in the 20 years that he has  been in the National Assembly, he has changed tactics and been reaching out to the opposition lawmakers.

    According to a source, the three aspirants who have been lobbying their PDP counterparts have not promised anything to the PDP caucus other than the promise of ‘inclusion.’

    A PDP chieftain said the main opposition party is maintaining keen interest in the developments heralding the emergence of the new Senate President and other principals.

    “Unlike 2015, the PDP is not bidding for the deputy Senate president. But, with the unity currently existing in the PDP Senate caucus, a bloc vote in a particular direction will be significant.

    Read also: Northeast stakeholders endorse Goje for Senate presidency

    “I know that PDP leadership will take a position when it decides to meet with its senators before the election takes place,” he added.

    An APC senator, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said: “The reality is that none of the three who want to head the Senate can ignore the PDP. The party has endorsed Lawan, only senators-elect will be there to vote and elect a new Senate President. Those of us supporting Lawan in the spirit of party supremacy have agreed to extend our tentacles. If we don’t go to the PDP senators, the other two will go. Therefore, I can confirm that we are interacting with them(PDP senators) on this issue.”

    Also, Goje’s old allies in PDP have enlisted in his bid for the highest parliamentary office, said a source.

    “But, Goje is cautious. He is in a dilemma. He is sensitive to the party’s position  on Lawan’s endorsement. Unlike Lawan and Ndume, it will not be difficult for Goje to penetrate the PDP and secure their support. He is in the race. But, he is not as aggressive as Lawan and Ndume,”added the source.

    PDP senator-elect have also told the contact persons that they will resist any attempt to change the Senate Standing Order on the open secret ballot system.

    Yesterday in Lagos, Ndume confirmed that he has started lobbying PDP senators, saying that they are critical to the proposed exercise.

    He told reporters that, as far as the election of the Senate Predident is concerned, all senators-elect, whether of APC or PDP, are very important.

    Ndume said he has put into motion the machinery for reaching out to PDP Senate caucus, following the clearance by the APC national leadership.

    He said: “I have the number of all the 109 senators-elect.”

     

  • PDP Senators allege plot to incriminate Ekweremadu, others

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate on Wednesday raised the alarm, alleging plots to harass, intimidate and place the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, in detention in the next two weeks.

    Addressing journalists at the National Assembly, the senators fingered “some persons in the Presidency” as masterminds of the plot.

    Speaking on behalf of the opposition lawmakers, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe said the unnamed persons were plotting to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies to carry out the plot.

    According to him, the security agencies were planning to plant huge sums of money in Ekweremadu’s residence in Enugu and elsewhere, then conduct a search on the premises to fish out the planted incriminating items.

    He alleged another plot to plant a gun in his car just to frame him up.

    Condemning the alleged plot, which they said must be resisted, the senators called on peace loving members of the public to be aware of what they described as an insidious plan to cow dissenting voices in the country.

    Abaribe said the detention of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, his Benue and Niger States counterparts, Gabriel Suswam and Babangida Aliyu respectively, has raised questions about the administration’s human rights compliance.

    “This is a worrying trend about happenings in our country today. A situation where you can be set up through the security agencies and be put in prison for nothing sounds the death knell for democracy and human rights in Nigeria,” Abaribe added.

    Others at the briefing were Ekweremadu; Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; Senator Theodore Orji and Gilbert Nnaji among others.

  • PDP senators deny impeachment plot against Buhari

    PDP senators deny impeachment plot against Buhari

    •Say this is no time for politicking

    Senators elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday denied their involvement in any alleged plot to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

    They dismissed reports of the impeachment plot as “false, baseless and unfounded.”

    The PDP Senators were apparently reacting to a statement by a former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees  (BoT),Chief Tony Anenih, asking  the National Caretaker committee Chairman – Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, to “dissuade the PDP caucus in the National Assembly from participating in the alleged ‘ill advised’ adventure of removing President Muhammadu Buhari from office.”

    The  Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; Minority Whip,  Philip Aduda; and Deputy Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi, said in a joint statement  that the PDP Senate Caucus had “neither discussed nor participated in any discussion or congregation on the issue of impeaching and/or serving notice of impeachment on President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    They asked Nigerians “generally to be cautious in spinning and/or peddling rumours capable of heating up the polity.”

    They said their main concern for now is the national economy and not impeaching the president.

    Their words: “By the admission of the Minister of Finance when she appeared before the Senate on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at plenary, the Nigerian economy is technically in recession. Therefore, this is no time for politicking.

    “Rather we should all join hands together to address the problems of unemployment, hunger, poverty and insecurity currently ravaging our country.

    “The downturn in the economy is of more concern to us as PDP Senators who are known patriots. Nigerians are passing through very difficult times and our immediate concern is how to assist in proffering solutions to the economic crises that we are presently faced with.

    “Before the Senate proceeded on a six-week recess on Thursday, July 21, 2016 there was no such item as impeachment of President Buhari, on the agenda of the PDP Senate Caucus or that of the Senate.”

    They pledged to work with other Senators to enact legislations that will uplift the living standard of Nigerians.

     

  • PDP Senators meet over Amaechi, others’ confirmation

    PDP Senators meet over Amaechi, others’ confirmation

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators held a crucial secret meeting on Wednesday to take a position on the confirmation of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and 17 others as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The confirmation of 18 outstanding ministerial nominees including Amaechi has been slated for Thursday.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, deferred confirmation of the nominees after the Senate screened five more nominees on Wednesday.

    Those screened on Wednesday included Mr. Okechukwu Eyinna Enelamah (Abia), Prof. Anthony Anwukah (Imo), Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa), Adamu Adamu(Bauchi) and Ms. Aisha Bello (Sokoto).

    The PDP Senators launched into the closed door meeting at Senate Hearing Room 1, immediately after Saraki adjourned plenary.

    Insiders said the meeting was specifically to enable the opposition lawmakers take position on some of the nominees.

    A competent source who attended the meeting said “you know we have just concluded the screening of the remaining nominees. We need to meet to ask some critical questions on some of the nominees. We need to take collective decision as a caucus.

    “Some of the nominees impressed, others did not. Some of them are controversial, others are not. We need to resolve and agree on our voting pattern. We are a caucus and we should be seen to vote as a block. It is normal in every political arrangement.”

    Asked whether Amaechi’s issue came up following the opposition of PDP Senators to the former governor’s screening, he noted that “nothing was foreclosed.”

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators on the other hand are said to be determined to ensure that all the nominees scaled through the confirmation hurdle.

    Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, had consistently said the Senate belongs to APC as the majority party in the chamber.

    He also said the minority would be allowed its say while the majority would have its way.

    Ndume assured that PDP Senators cannot stop the confirmation of any nominee.

    Another PDP Senator also at the meeting said that “Amaechi will be cleared just like other nominees.”

    He noted that though there are some who still harboured hard feelings against Amaechi, “the consensus is that we should allow him to go.”

  • 17 PDP senators to join APC

    17 PDP senators to join APC

    Mark to get notice of defection this week, says Saraki

    A Major change is set to hit the Senate, it was learnt yesterday.

    Seventeen Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators are to defect to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), one of them said.

    Since the defection of 37 members of the PDP in the House of Representatives to the APC, the opposition party has been in the majority in the lower house.

    However, with the expected defection of the 17 senators, the PDP will still retain the majority, with 56 senators as against APC’s 50. Labour Party has two senators – Boluwaji Kunlere and Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo State). The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has one – Mrs Chris Anyanwu (Imo State).

    Senator Bukola Saraki, who broke the news of the impending defection in Ilorin yesterday, said: “We are going to formally defect. When we started, we were 19. But Jigawa senators pulled out. We have 17 senators that will defect from PDP to APC.

    “The letter has been signed. I have signed my own. Others have signed theirs. So, it is not a matter of maybe. It must be and not a matter of months or weeks, but a matter of days.”

    Saraki, two-term governor and Kwara State political leader, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, said: “I want you to rule out the fear of losing our seats; this week we will write the senate president of our decision to defect. The letter is ready, only that we don’t want to go solo; there are two other senators who were to go to their constituencies this weekend and finalise with their people.

    “You know when it comes to the Senate, the issue is more complicated and you have to handle it; your constituency is larger than that of the Representatives and in politics, there are many things you must consider.

    “But I can tell you it is not a question of ‘if’, it is a matter of when and I can assure you it will happen. We know that the majority of senators understand issues beyond the case filed by the PDP.”

    He also emphatically ruled out the possibility of his group returning to the PDP. He declared that their “commitment to the APC is total”.

    Saraki said “forced” resignation of Alhaji Bamaga Tukur as PDP chairman had vindicated his group. He insisted that “there is no reason to go back to the PDP, which has recently done what it should have done long ago, with the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur”.

    On the focus of the APC on the Rivers State crisis, Saraki said there was an understanding that while the Inspector General of Police (Mohammed Abubakar) has the experience and maturity to tackle the matter, it is evident that some other factors are working to hinder him, hence the need for federal legislators and other stakeholders to intervene.

    He added: “I was a governor for eight years and was chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum. We know the power of the governor under the law. During the time, we had occasions to look at states where the governor and the CP could not work together and in the interest of peace and political stability, we recommended the redeployment of such officers. It is necessary because the law says the governor will oversee issues of security.

    “The IGP is an experienced officer; look, the crisis in Rivers is less than what happened in Kwara State during the time of Governor Mohammed Lawal; it was hotter than what they have now and the IGP (Abubakar) was the CP here and he handled it. But, for his maturity, maybe people like us wouldn’t have become governor.

    “So, if he cannot do what is right, we know it is because there are other factors responsible and we want to help him remove those factors.”

    Saraki condemned attempts by some aggrieved members of the APC in the state to give false impressions about themselves and the party, saying a recent statement credited to a former House of Representatives candidate, Reverend Bunmi Olusona, who claimed to be chairman of the party when there is nothing like that on ground was politically irresponsible.

    The former Kwara State governor added that the PDP is clinically dead in Kwara.

    “Those who are opposed to our system are in the minority. I do not see their capacity to take over. They may have their personal agenda. They may believe that they can go to Abuja and make some promises so that they can benefit something. I do not think their actions are in the interest of Kwarans.

    “As far as Kwara is concerned, in the Senate, only one senator is not with us. All the Rep members are with us. In the House of Assembly, there were 22 members elected on PDP platform and two on the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform. Out of these 24, only two are not with us now. The entire local councils are controlled by the APC; where will they take off? We are not even going to stop because we want to take more.”

    Saraki denied seeking Senate President David Mark’s job. He said: “It will be unfortunate of anyone, in any quarters to say I want Senator Mark’s seat. I do not want his seat, But I will not be blackmailed in not doing or say what I feel is right because I have been down this road a number of times while standing strong on not only what is right but in the best interest of our great country. Therefore, I will not succumb to cheap blackmail that all my intent was all about naked ambition or personal interest”.

    “For me to dissipate my time and energy, seeking Senator Mark’s seat with a year to election and likely possible only six months of active legislative activities, will be illogical. But as leaders, there will be issues that we will continue to speak and stand for which I believe is in the interest of the Senate and in my view, the interest of our nation.”

    He added: “In September 2011, I stood up then to demand transparency and Accountability in the management of the fuel subsidy, where I spoke about the massive fraud in the scheme which posed a great threat to our economy. Then I was called names and told that I did not like Mr President and that it was all about the 2015 elections and that my figures were grossly inaccurate and no such mismanagement took place. Now the facts have shown otherwise.”

    Saraki also expressed delight that the Senate would look into the missing billions of dollars. He said he is convinced that the Senate would do a thorough job and unravel the misery surrounding the missing cash in the interest of the nation.