Three senators defection yet to be announced

Posted By: Yusuf Alli




The battle for the control of the National Assembly seems to be getting tougher – outside the two chambers.

Despite the defection of some senators and members of the House of Representatives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), APC senators are insisting on their simple majority, which they believe will soon be more consolidated.

Besides, they are insisting that Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara must step down when they eventually defect to the PDP – a move they are believed to be planning.

Senators and members of the House of Representatives supporting President Muhammadu Buhari are back to the drawing board to sustain APC’s majority in the two chambers.

They are demanding that Saraki and Dogara must step down if the APC retains the majority in the National Assembly by September 26 when the lawmakers end their annual recess.

The lawmakers, who are mostly members of the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG), may ask Saraki to quit if he is put on trial over the Offa robbery. The Senate President insists on his innocence.

He was quizzed yesterday by detectives investigating the incident in which no fewer than 33 people died.

PSG members and some strategists of the President have been meeting on how to “consolidate APC’s majority” in the National Assembly.

One of the issues on the agenda is Saraki’s refusal to read letters of defection of three senators, who are defecting from PDP to APC. They are Hajiya Fatima Raji Rasaki; Hope Uzondima and Sunday Ogbuoji.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said Nigerians have not heard the last word on the defections in the National Assembly.

He said: “We believe APC has the number to hold a simple majority in the two chambers, contrary to what our leaders have been telling the nation. Without Senator Saraki, APC senators are 53 and, of course, it is obvious that APC is in the majority in the House.

“Pro-Buhari/ APC members of the National Assembly have had some sessions in the last 72 hours and our ultimate goal is to sustain our majority in the two chambers.
“With the upcoming elections in two states and ongoing talks and reconciliation, we will certainly be up to 57 in the Senate.

“All we are waiting for is for Saraki and Dogara to tell the nation whether they are defecting or not. Once they defect, we will insist that they must step down as our leaders.

“By simple majority, we are expected to produce the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. We will not take anything less than that.”

A PSG leader said: “Deep in their hearts, Saraki and Dogara know that they have some hurdles to cross. The option for Dogara is to remain a member of APC and keep his office. Once he abandons APC for PDP, he has to step aside. And if he does not defect, he won’t get any 2019 ticket in APC.”

The thinking is that once Saraki defects, he will face a tough battle to retain his seat because, the source said, “we will draw a battle line with our simple majority”. “ It is this dilemma that has delayed them in announcing their next plan of action,” he added, pleading not to be named”.

A former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, confirmed the demand of APC Senators and Representatives.

He said: “If Saraki defects, he has to step down. That is what it should be. But, as of now, he has not announced, written or registered. He is only hobnobbing around with PDP. So that is what we have to wait for. If he announces his resignation from APC or his defection, he loses the Senate President’s seat automatically.

“If Saraki defects to the PDP, he is still our colleague in the Senate, but he cannot remain the Senate President. That cannot work. But he will be a senator like me. The same thing applies to Dogara.

“You cannot participate in PDP primaries while you remain in APC; it is not possible and you can’t remain in PDP and go and participate in APC primaries.

Even the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines do not allow you to do that. You have to move to a certain party before a certain period and the period is usually before the primaries.

“I remember in my own case, I moved from ANPP to PDP but I had to do that before the expiration of my time.”

On the consequences of the defections on APC, Ndume said: “In fact, now, we are better off because we now know clearly the colour of the moles and the names of the moles that were living with us and most of these people had issues, which is why they left. Some of them have issues in their constituencies, some with their governors.

You cannot say they are not important but they cannot do any damage; they are not indispensable.

“Our meeting with the President has unified us. Before, some of the defectors were standing up to talk the way they wanted but now we have known true and committed APC senators and Representatives.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/apc-senators-insist-saraki-dogara-must-step-down/



L

Why don't you try and impeach them if you think you have the number (2/3)? Stop making noise and concentrate on your ass licking and support of a failed government.

"Wahala de sleep jeje, Yanga de wake it".
The Case of APC and Saraki and Dogara, is a Cake The APC had eaten. The APC cannot have the Cake again..
If The APC will not want to be seen selfish, wicked, uncaring and undemocratic, their remaining Legislators should cooperate with their Colleague in The NASS to grant Full Autonomies to our 36 State Governments now.
The State Governments should control their Internal Security Policing, their Resources, their Electioneering Processes and their Contributions to run The F.G.
APC and Buhari can redeem themselves with this now.

They won't step down until they have cause alot of mayhem in the camp of ruling party...Awon oloriburuku.

These APC Members dhould know that the 2 Men will not step down, they should remember Tambuwals case.. PDP didn’t force him to resign when he decamped to APC...

The nationonline has been on rampage since the defection...

OK, good

escodotman:
Why don't you try and impeach them if you think you have the number (2/3)? Stop making noise and concentrate on your ass licking and support of a failed government.

Reread from the beginning, this time slowly then you go understand

I don't know who is more stupid between this senators and the Nations newspaper. Whether APC has simple majority or major majority. Saraki and Dogara cannot be removed unless there are impeached. Currently non-APC members are Even majority with 54 against the APC's 53 with one APC senator in jail

checkolatunji:


Reread from the beginning, this time slowly then you go understand

Understand what exactly? Whether they defect or not they will remain SP and speaker respectively. There is no law that says the SP or speaker must be elected from the majority party

Nogodye:
They won't step down until they have cause alot of mayhem in the camp of ruling party...Awon oloriburuku.

They won't even step down at all until their tenures are over

Chuksonyeike:

Understand what exactly? Whether they defect or not they will remain SP and speaker respectively. There is no law that says the SP or speaker must be elected from the majority party

My friend majority represents the house, it's as simple as that.

checkolatunji:


My friend majority represents the house, it's as simple as that.

Saraki and Dogara were elected by a majority of senators and HOR members and cannot be removed unless by 2/3 of the Senate or HOR. APC currently does not even have simple majority of the Senate as non-APC members make up majority

Let's talk again when the APC secures 2/3 majority

checkolatunji:


My friend majority represents the house, it's as simple as that.

Under which provisions of the 1999 Constitution?

Why ask them to step down.
Wetin “short-man-devil”, OSHIOMOLE dey wait for?
OSHIOMOLE the APE should sack na!

checkolatunji:


My friend majority represents the house, it's as simple as that.

You have a serious headache

checkolatunji:


My friend majority represents the house, it's as simple as that.

Who taught you that?

Ass licking zombified sinators who are being ordered around by the midget oshiomole.
Una no dey shame ,for three years now a PDP minority senator ekweremadu has been the deputy senate president and you couldn't do jack only to be ranting now wey day don break . rubbish

I don't see such happening. APC just have to accept that

Loads if rubbish. Karma is not a respecter of anybody. The impunity done to PDP before 2015 general elections where Tambuwal refused to step down as Speaker House of representatives despite his defection with huge applause from APC is EXACTLY what APC will get this time around with Saraki and Dogara. APC should be ready to reap the Tambuwal treatment they supported heavily in the last administration. Bloody jihadist party.

Chuksonyeike:
I don't know who is more stupid between this senators and the Nations newspaper. Whether APC has simple majority or major majority. Saraki and Dogara cannot be removed unless there are impeached. Currently non-APC members are Even majority with 54 against the APC's 53 with one APC senator in jail

The one in jail is now an UNREPENTANT PDP supporter. APC can keep on dreaming.
Never seen a party that acts like untrained spoiled children like APC.

Chuksonyeike:

Understand what exactly? Whether they defect or not they will remain SP and speaker respectively. There is no law that says the SP or speaker must be elected from the majority party

Stop saying what you don't know, the leader of the house must come from the party with majority, read about things before making fool of yourself, do you think Saraki and Dogara are fools or happy staying in APC but the number is not in their favour.

action speak clearer than voice, you all know right from the time saraki does not belong in APC.

checkolatunji:


Reread from the beginning, this time slowly then you go understand

Open your brain or ask an educated fellow to translate my comments to you in your dialect.

Given the body language of the Senate president, he should have defected but he is being held back by this president thingy, those saying majority doesn't count should answer why its so difficult for Saraki to defect.

infohenry:
Stop saying what you don't know, the leader of the house must come from the party with majority, read about things before making fool of yourself, do you think Saraki and Dogara are fools or happy staying in APC but the number is not in their favour.

You are the one making a fool of yourself. You are supposed to quote the relevant portions of the constitution or Senate rule where you got this gibberish from

saaron:
Loads if rubbish. Karma is not a respecter of anybody. The impunity done to PDP before 2015 general elections where Tambuwal refused to step down as Speaker House of representatives despite his defection with huge applause from APC is EXACTLY what APC will get this time around with Saraki and Dogara. APC should be ready to reap the Tambuwal treatment they supported heavily in the last administration. Bloody jihadist party.

That is the karma now for them being served red, red hot.

Day dreamers...

Nogodye:
They won't step down until they have cause alot[s][/s] of mayhem in the camp of ruling party...Awon oloriburuku.

...have caused a lot...

lecowas:
Given the body language of the Senate president, he should have defected but he is being held back by this president thingy, those saying majority doesn't count should answer why its so difficult for Saraki to defect.

...why it's so...

Apc shd jst lick their wounds and move on.