There are strong indications that the All Progressives Congress is insisting on the removal of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered on Saturday that although the APC was happy with the appointments, which the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made in the committees of the upper chamber on Thursday, the party believed that for the peace process to complete, Ekweremadu must resign or be removed.

Saraki became the senate president in June last year against the wish of the APC, which supported the emergence of Senator Ahmed Lawan.

The former Kwara State governor emerged as the senate president with the support of the his loyalists under the aegis of Like-Mind Senators comprising members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the upper chamber and most of their colleagues in the APC.

It was reported last year that one of the conditions that the PDP gave to Saraki was to concede the deputy senate president seat to one of its members.

The senate president defied the APC when he ensured that his loyalists, except Senator Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip) became the principal officers.

But on Thursday, Saraki began a peace move when he reshuffled senate panels and appointed his critics in the Senate Unity Forum as heads of “juicy committees.”

For example, the spokesman of the SUF, Senator Kabiru Marafa, became the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), while Senator Oluremi Tinubu was appointed the Chairperson of the Committee on the Environment.

A chief of the APC, who pleaded anonymity, confided in Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, that although Saraki’s action was a right step in the right direction, he should do more.

He said the APC was not comfortable with Ekweremadu as the deputy senate president and Saraki should look for a way of “getting him out.”

He said that besides being a PDP member, the deputy senate president had not hidden his disdain for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The party chieftain stated, “We are happy with what he (Saraki) did with the committees, but Ekweremadu cannot remain as the deputy senate president. When the PDP was in power, opposition parties did not produce the deputy senate president.”

Another APC leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “What Saraki has done is not enough. Ekweremadu must leave that position.”

When contacted to comment on the claim that the APC was insisting on Ekweremadu’s removal, the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said, “No comment.”

Repeated calls to the mobile telephone number of the party’s National Secretary, Mai Bala Buni, were neither picked nor returned, a response to a text message sent to him was being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

Our position has not changed —SUF member

But a member of the SUF, Senator Adesoji Akanbi, (Oyo South), told SUNDAY PUNCH that the aggrieved lawmakers would not back down on their agitation for the Senate leadership.

The senator explained that he, and other members of the SUF, despite being offered positions in the Senate, would continue to support the directive of the APC.

He added that he was sure members of the forum, who were recently offered positions, would not turn against the party.

Akanbi said, “We all know what the party wanted from day one. Initially, when the leadership of the Senate was to be formed, we all know where the party stood. Up till now, the party has not changed its position and will not.

“Those who have been offered positions have the choice to accept or not to accept. I am sure that it will not affect their loyalty to their party. The Kabir Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi that I know, are loyal to the party, just like any other members of the SUF which I belong.”

He said that the forum was formed by senators who believe in the APC and the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akanbi said, “We from the South-West also believe in the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. If that (loyalty to the three) is a sin, we are prepared to commit it. If it is a sin to stand by those three – APC, Buhari and Tinubu – we will continue to be sinners.”

The senator also noted that the recent reshuffle of committee chairmanship was not a new thing in the legislature, regardless of which sides of the divide lawmakers belonged.

He added that those who were giving and taking positions should do so as representatives of the party and not as independent individuals.

Efforts to get Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi, who are both members of the SUF and beneficiaries of the new appointments, were not successful on Saturday as their telephone lines indicated that they had been switched off.

Marafa had on Friday said that the reshuffling of the committees was an initiative of the party.

But a senior aide to Saraki, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said those who were still not satisfied with the leadership of the Senate among members of the SUF, were speaking for themselves.

The aide also said that the APC currently lacked the popularity to unseat Ekweremadu in the current scheme of things.

The source said, “How does the APC even want to remove Ekweremadu when it takes the simple majority to elect the Deputy Senate President but it takes two-thirds of the entire legislators to remove him.

“Do they have the two-thirds? They don’t have it. As of today, the PDP senators are more in the position to do that than the APC senators.”

Appointments, part of reconciliation — Saraki

The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, who spoke to one of our correspondents on behalf of Saraki, confirmed that the new committee appointments were parts of the moves to bring senators closer together.

He said, “It cannot be the only thing. When you have 109 people representing large constituencies, continuously, you have to manage situations. It is like having 109 captains. Continuously, you have to discuss with and engage people; you have to make reconciliatory moves. That is what you have to do continuously if you want to get the job done.

“It (the appointment) is just one of the continuous moves that have to be made from time to time. Remember that Saraki met with (Sen. Oluremi) Tinubu for a long time; he also met with Dino (Melaye) over their issue. As the issues arise, you have to continue to engage them. It is a continuous effort.”

Meanwhile, senators of the Peoples Democratic Party have denied media reports that they were planning to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a a press statement at the weekend jointly signed by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, and Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi, the PDP Senators described the said impeachment plot as “false, baseless and unfounded.”

They said, “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the said impeachment plot is false, baseless and unfounded. 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, GCFR. Hence, we advise Nigerians generally to be cautious in spinning and/or peddling rumours capable of heating up the polity.”

http://punchng.com/ekweremadu-must-go-apc-chiefs-insist/

Ekweremmadu ain't going nowhere.that's All

I wonder what the Afonjas are waiting for before they activate their political treachery on Ekweremadu..

Are they still on this needless issue?

They should fight poverty and hunger that are killing Nigerians

It seems these APC crooks don't learn.
Pray Saraki doesn't go too and then, your thieving eyes will clear.

There's no way Tambuwal factor won't happen in this APC government .... The masses should be ready To hear a lot of secrets before 2019 election..

Sorry APC chiefs keep dreaming.You do not have the numbers to remove Saraki.Even asking Saraki to remove Ekweremadu is ridiculous,Even if Sraki wanted,there is no way he can remove him.

EastGold:
Are they still on this needless issue?


They should fight poverty and hunger that are killing Nigerians

That's because the vast majority of them rigged themselves in and are touts. Even the governors are mostly touts and boy boys to godfathers. And of course, you have a coupist as HOH so it's all fu.cked up.

The chieves abi thieves should go and remove him now.

Naija politics iyaf tired me...

What are the waiting for?

There is simply no other way- one way or another, he simply has to be removed. This is Saraki's original sin besides the fact he's a recalcitrant crook (na Kwarans talk am no be me).

In battle, you don't sharpen the sword of your enemy, you try to blunt it as much as possible- that is a FACT people who get too emotional won't accept.

Sixteen good years, we never had a diluted NASS top most leadership- doing so is neither for the good of the party or the executive leadership.

Gongola State ni

overdrive:
Ekweremmadu ain't going nowhere.that's All

It's already on. Saraki is in APC but not with APC

Beadex1:
There's no way Tambuwal factor won't happen in this APC government .... The masses should be ready To hear a lot of secrets before 2019 election..

overdrive:
Ekweremmadu ain't going nowhere.that's All

Gbam

GO FOR REAL? 4 UR DREAM BA? WHY MUST WE HAVE ONLY ONE
PARTY SYSTEM IN NIGERIA? it
hasnt happens and everythng is in
higgledy-piggledy and pandemonium states already.. A P C self

Let them keep wasting their time on Ekweremadu while the masses are dying due to hardship.

So if ekweremadu resign the forgery trial already instituted will be dropped, well this should not come as a surprise to discerning minds. I only pity those cheering this mofos on empty stomach because at the end of the day it's all about self interest.
As for me I have made up my mind to work harder so that by 2019 I will have enough dough to hire online loafers that litters here to do the shouting so that I can join the honourable members crew.

Noted

What of buhari,when is he going.

omenka:
There is simply no other way- one way or another, he simply has to be removed. This is Saraki's original sin besides the fact he's a recalcitrant crook (na Kwarans talk am no be me).

In battle, you don't sharpen the sword of your enemy, you try to blunt it as much as possible- that is a FACT people who get too emotional won't accept.

Sixteen good years, we never had a diluted NASS top most leadership- doing so is neither for the good of the party or the executive leadership.

That ship has sailed; his removal will remain a mere wish. The APC needs to tread with caution, lest they plunge the Senate into chaos.

APC Power!

omenka:
There is simply no other way- one way or another, he simply has to be removed. This is Saraki's original sin besides the fact he's a recalcitrant crook (na Kwarans talk am no be me).
In battle, you don't sharpen the sword of your enemy, you try to blunt it as much as possible- that is a FACT people who get too emotional won't accept.
Sixteen good years, we never had a diluted NASS top most leadership- doing so is neither for the good of the party or the executive leadership.

Stop living in delusion, Ekweremadu is simply unremovable and unshakable.

Y all dis gannnnn

CHIJIOKE1314:
I wonder what the Afonjas are waiting for before they activate their political treachery on Ekweremadu..

IPOB tout, never seeing you make any sensible comment, everything to you is about tribe. Stupid bigot.

Buhari must go.

rheether:
Buhari must go.

His going in the year 2023. Thats a constant

Bolustic:
Ekweremadu and PDP trying to reap from where they didn't sow.

To those calling for the heads of the APC leaders, can they mention at any time in the history of this 16 years democracy when PDP had allowed the opposition to occupy the position of a CHIEF WHIP in both chambers let alone Deputy Senate President?

So PDP now knows how it feels to be out of power completely.

Unfortunately, the Igbos don't even have anything meaningful to show for Ekweremadu's occupation of the DSP for the 9th year running, I thought as the head of the Constitutional ammendment committee, he could have pressured the Senate on the need for the 6th state in the SE bit no!!!

Zombie, Tambuwal nko?