APC accuses PDP of planning to attack its senators

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to attack some of its senators in a bid to ensure the Senate President, Bukola Saraki retains his position as senator.

The position of the senate president since his defection has been under threat as the ruling party is bent on him resigning or being removed. The APC says Mr Saraki can no longer lead the Senate having joined the minority party. Mr Saraki, however, insists on retaining his seat and says he will not resign.

The APC, which still has slight majority in the Senate, will need two third of the senators to remove Mr Saraki which means it will need the help of some PDP senators.

The party, noting it does not believe in inducing lawmakers to achieve its goals, said it is already in talks with PDP senators it believes are in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The APC, in a statement on Tuesday by its acting national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, said it learnt the PDP will recruit thugs for this purpose.

It therefore called on security agents to protect APC senators and warned that if any senator is harmed, the PDP and Mr Saraki should be held directly responsible.

“Our attention has been drawn to sinister plans by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to attack some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators as part of the PDP’s desperate bid to ensure that Dr. Bukola Saraki clings to the position of Senate President.

“We learnt that the PDP expressed worry over the APC’s Senate majority and considered several options to stop the APC from taking over the Senate leadership among which is attacking some APC Senators to ensure their inability to attend legislative sittings.

“We call on security agencies to also closely monitor the activities of some PDP leaders including Saraki because the plan to attack APC Senators is real and imminent.”

The party also alleged that Mr Saraki tried to bribe its senators with N100 million each. It provided no evidence to back up its claims.

“We reiterate our call for Saraki’s immediate resignation as Senate President. He cannot lead the APC majority Senate. But if he fails to resign honourably, we will impeach him. The PDP’s propaganda and threat of violence cannot save him.

“Saraki’s decision not to reconvene the National Assembly done with the support of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara further buttresses our position (that) Saraki is ever ready to pursue his selfish interests over National Interest. This is another brazen display of his penchant for abuse of powers and sabotage of government, however the cost and implication.

“Clearly, Saraki’s actions as Senate President now bother on high treason.”