Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has perfected the plan to produce the replacement for the current embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki should he be removed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Recall that the PDP in a smart deal with Saraki supported him to emerge the Senate president while also producing the deputy senate president.
PDP senators of the PDP reportedly met on Monday, March 28 to perfect the plan. Part of the grand plan to claim the Senate president seat will have the current Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu resigning alongside Saraki for an APC senator from the North-Central would emerge as the deputy.
Confirming the plot, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaboshi, said the PDP would produce the next Senate President.
“Should the incumbent, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is forced to vacate the office, we have perfected necessary arrangements to take over the upper chamber.” “Well, I wish the APC the best of luck if they are on a wild goose chase. But I want you to mark what I am saying. I was the first to address the press in Port Harcourt and I told them that Saraki was going to win the Senate Presidency and I gave them my reasons.
“Then, nobody ever thought that Saraki was going to win. People were saying that APC had decided. But it was clear to me that he was going to win and I had to address the press. Eventually, we went there, he won. If, but God forbids, because we don’t see it coming, by chance, Saraki is removed, I can tell you that the PDP will produce the next Senate President,” Punch newspaper quoted him.
But the APC in another smart move to stop the PDP’s grand plan also closed the gap between the two factions of the APC senators. Spokesperson for the SUF, Senator Kabir Marafa, confirmed that the two factions of the APC in the Senate met last week to close ranks and resist any attempt by the PDP to call the shots in the red chamber.
“We sat for four days last week, brainstormed, agreed and at the end of the day, we came out with a three-point agenda. We felt if they are agreed upon, the APC caucus in the National Assembly can become one,” he was quoted.
He said they agreed on key issues including the illegality of committees; Marginalization of Unity Forum senators in the formation of the committees; Issue of leadership and how it affects the party. Recall that the unity forum senators of the APC worked against Saraki’s emergence as Senate president while the Like minds group led by Dino Melaye backed Mr Saraki for the seat. Pundits however predict a tough time for the Buhari led APC administration should PDP senators have their way and claim Senate president seat.