… As Saraki Explains Absence At Meeting Called By Vice President Osinbajo
BEVERLY HILLS, June 08, (THEWILL) – With the proclamation of the 8th National Assembly just hours away, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has adopted Senator Bukola Saraki for the position of Senate President.
The party also adopted Hon. Yakubu Dogara for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Saraki and Dogara, former members of the PDP in the last political dispensation, are now members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP in a statement late Monday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, urged its members at the National assembly to “act accordingly.”
The PDP, which will be minority in both chambers of the National Assembly for the first time since democracy was installed in 1999, has 49 senators-elect in the 109-member Senate, while it has 125 members in the 360-member House of Representatives.
The PDP’s much anticipated move complicates the election process for the APC, which had adopted Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for Senate President and House Speaker positions, respectively.
The APC which has been in crisis over its bid to present consensus candidates for the leadership of the National Assembly held last minute meetings late Monday to pacify aggrieved members at the National Assembly.
THEWILL could not ascertain as at press time whether the meetings succeeded in wooing members to tow the party’s line as the Bukola and Dogara factions remained adamant through Monday night.
The APC, the majority at the National Assembly, presently has 59 senators-elect following the death of Senator Ahmed Zanna on May 16, while in the 360-member House of Representatives it has 214 members-elect. The statistics means the APC has 89 more members ahead of the PDP. The three other parties, Labour Party, Accord Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) share the balance 10 seats.
Analysts expect the PDP to hugely influence the outcome of Tuesday’s elections following the divisions at the APC.
Meanwhile, Saraki has explained why he was absent at a meeting of APC leaders called by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
The ranking senator in a statement debunked news reports that he deliberately boycotted the meeting.
Statement by his spokesman reads: “SENATOR SARAKI HAS GREAT RESPECT FOR THE PERSON AND OFFICE OF PROF OSINBAJO
The attention of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s media office has been drawn to a publication by an online tabloid which insinuated that “Senator Saraki Boycotts APC Leadership Meeting To be Chaired by VP Osinbajo”
We wish to categorically state that up to this very point 10:50pm, 8th of June 2015, senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki is yet to receive any official invitation from His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria or through any other source for any meeting; political, social or otherwise.
Understanding the importance of last minute consultation required for the inauguration of the 8th Assembly, Senator Saraki has been attending to meetings with colleagues and friends on the program for the 8th assembly.
Senator Saraki having being in public service in different capacity knows the importance of respecting the office and person of the Vice President. And therefore advise those spreading false news to cease and desist.
Senator Saraki therefore, uses this opportunity to assure His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria of his highest regards.”
