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| National Assembly |
NASS:HOW SENATE LEADER FAILED TO STOP MASS DEFECTION
FROM APC
There was
mild drama in the Senate on Tuesday as the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, tried to
stop the mass defection of some lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC).
PREMIUM
TIMES reported how 15 senators left the ruling party with majority announced
they were joining the main opposition party, PDP.
They said
they made the decision to decamp after due consultation with their constituents
and stakeholders in their constituencies.
Shortly
after the letter of the first 14 lawmakers was read by the Senate President, Lawan
stood up to oppose the defection. He said disagreement in the APC does not
translate to factionalisation of the party, which is the basis
upon which a
lawmaker could abandon their party.
The chamber
was then thrown into a rowdy session as the newly-defected lawmakers disagreed
with his statement and tried to stop him from talking.
However,
after a few moments, Lawan continued. He said it was true the APC has its own
internal challenges and members had internal disagreements.
He, however,
demanded that the announcement of defections be “contained” so as to let
leaders of the party address the issue.
“We all know
how so much effort by so many stakeholders to address the issues that bedevil
this party and disagreements do not translate to factionalisation.
“I feel our
senators of the APC stock will not have to move to another party. I also
believe that because the issues are under serious discussion by the major
leaders and stakeholders of this party, I will ask Mr President that, that
announcement be quarantined – contained; and give us (leaders) of the party an
opportunity to use all avenues to address.
“Mr
President, very seriously speaking, this matter should be stepped down until we
exhaust…”
In his
response, Senate President, Bokola Saraki made reference to the absence of the Deputy Senate President,
Ike Ekweremadu, at plenary due to the siege laid by security operatives at his
Abuja residence.
“Your point
of explanation is noted. I’m sure that you have seen the seat beside you is
absent. As we speak now, the deputy senate president cannot get out of his house,
he’s under siege,” he said adding that he too escaped a similar experience.
“This is not
something that has started today, it will not end today. People have gone and come
back, but this kind of actions do not allow for what you are speaking. You have
been here for many years and as such – DSP – as we are speaking cannot come out
of his house,” he said.
He
thereafter announced that another senator, Abdulazeez Nyako, added his name to
the list of defectors.
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| Nigerian Senate |
Saraki said
he noted the Senate leader’s stance, but could not prevent lawmakers from
leaving the APC.
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