As the leadership crisis in the National Assembly nears its end, the leadership of the All Progressives congress, APC, has admitted to losing the battle and possibly the war, as well over 81 Senators passed a vote of confidence on Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu.
Ekweremadu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wrestled the Deputy Senate President position from the APC, on account of the party’s failure to reconcile the conflicting interests between Saraki and senator Lawan who both itched for the position.
On June 9, Saraki outsmarted the APC to become the Senate President, an action which created a vacuum for Ekweremadu to also triumph over Ali Ndume who did not get the numerical strength to pull it off, since most members of the APC absconded to attend the alleged reconciliatory meeting with President Buhari.
See: I had no choice but to ignore Oyegun’s letter – Saraki
This event which the APC initially rejected and thereafter accepted was revealed by the APC Chairman, John Oyegun, as part of their plan to get Ekweremadu out of the equation at the time.
“If he wants to resign, we would be very very glad, but for now, as at today, our mission is to get the Senate settled to get them at work.”
The APC leadership had clearly exhibited discontent with the emergence of Ekweremadu and the current situation would have been managed.
Chief Solomon Edojah, Chieftain of the APC has however confirmed that Ekweremadu must be fused into the plans and manifesto of the APC Government, since he already took a position originally designed for an APC member.
See: We have disappointed Nigerians but don’t blame me – Oyegun
Against this backdrop, Oyegun also revealed that Ekweremadu has remained a stumbling block the APC cannot remove considering the Constitutional requirement of getting two-third majority which the APC currently does not have.
He sated this during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja stressing that the APC has lost hope of removing Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President and added, the party was overwhelmed by the actions of its members in the National Assembly.
He dispelled the insinuation that Ekweremadu was only occupying his position on temporary basis.
“Do you know the rules of the House? You can only remove them with a two-third majority so what makes it temporary.
“Simple, in the case of the House that we have just dealt with it, we got to the bridge but have not crossed it, they had not named any principal officers, so obviously it was a lot easier to handle.
“The Senate has named its Principal Officers and by their rules they can only be removed either when they voluntarily resign or when you command a two-third majority to vote them out.”
Oyegun also assured that reconciliatory moves are ongoing to bring lasting peace in the National Assembly despite the petition for forgery currently distracting the Senate.
He also lamented the scenario that took place in the House of Representatives which has creating a razor-sharp divide between members of the APC which needs Gods intervention.
See: Why we fought Oyegun, Tinubu over Gbajabiamila – APC lawmakers
“So the approaches obviously will be totally different in the sense that, in the senate also I hear there is a court process underway, that makes a lot of issues sub judicial so it changes the picture doesn’t it?
“Is not good enough for us with what happened in the House but we are also watching that and we are going to engage on the senate situation and by God’s grace it will also be resolved
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