(Post Nigeria) Anxiety seems to have gripped the Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, over a possible high profile mass defection from the party.
Post-Nigeria learnt that many of the party leaders are worried that the APC might be going the way of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the days of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, when the then Speaker of the House of Representatives and now Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, jumped ship from the PDP to the APC.
With the current posture of the Senate, and a resolution passed by the House of Representatives, warning the Executive against hounding the Legislators, many in the APC are worried that the party might soon recreate the ‘Tambuwal scenario’, if breaks were not pulled on the lingering crisis.
Leaders of the party are worried that if the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, decides to confront the APC and cross over to the PDP, or any other upcoming party, he would not only tilt the Senate in favour of the PDP, but he might be leaving with the 36 APC Senators currently supporting him.
He would also do a heavy damage according to sources, because about 6 APC Governors are currently behind him.
Already, it was learnt that discussions are on-going, between some disgruntled members of the APC and their PDP counterparts, on either the formation of a new party, or an alliance that would see a mass defection from the APC.
A source, who pleaded anonymity over possible sanction by the party, however, said that the APC national leadership was looking for a political solution to resolve the crisis, even as he blamed the wrangling on interest and the executive’s interference in the affairs of the legislature.
Saraki, who is a member of the ruling party, is being prosecuted by the Federal Government, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for alleged false declaration of assets.
He is also facing another trial at an Abuja High Court, alongside his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP, over alleged forgery of the Senate Rules.
The rift has continued to fester, and is assuming a more dangerous dimension. During the last Ramadan period, President Muhammadu Buhari, hosted different classes of people, including party leaders, business moguls, physically challenged persons, friends of the government, among others. However, his planned breaking of fast with members of the National Assembly and their Leaders was cancelled for no reason.
While the Presidency held that the dinner was just postponed, sources at the National Assembly said that the Legislators simply refused to attend, owing to what they perceived as the persecution of Saraki and Ekweremadu.
On Saraki’s prosecution, the source said, that while the belief is that the APC is hounding him, because he defied the party’s leadership to emerge as President of the Senate, it should be noted that the present administration has persistently said that its war against corruption is total.
“I agree that politics is a game of interest. So, I cannot dismiss those who are saying that the Senate President is being persecuted, because he defied the APC leadership during the election for presiding officers of the Senate, but one thing we must bear in mind, is that the present administration has never pretended that there would be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption,” the source said.
Eze Afrika
