The PDP which is in the minority, is gearing up to usurp the majority All Progressives Congress (APC), in order take over leadership of the senate, and are already intensifying their efforts to achieve that.
According to reports credited to The Nation, Saraki’s ongoing trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has opened up opportunities for members of the PDP in the senate to strengthen their stronghold on the leadership of the 8th Assembly.
The party is considering a return for former Senate president, David Mark; Saraki’s deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Goodswill Akpabio in the event that the seat becomes vacant.
A PDP senator, who spoke with The Nation, said: “The party hopes to win to its side some APC senators to vote for our candidate along with the PDP senators. This is based on our belief that many senators across party lines are unhappy with the ongoing trial of the Senate President and we all know where this is coming from.”
It was also reliably gathered that a meeting of PDP senators and members of Saraki’s ‘likeminds’ will hold tomorrow in Abuja in order to talk about the recent happenings in the upper chamber and observe the body language of Saraki’s loyalists.
“While I know we will be discussing how to stall any plan to remove Saraki from office, I am also aware that we will be talking about how to ensure that APC doesn’t take over the leadership of the senate even if Saraki has to go. Already we are positioning our men in readiness for another political battle on the floor of the senate. If Saraki is forced out, we will replace him with one of our own.
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| Former governor Goodswill Akpabio is being supported by anti-Ekweremadu senators |
“Ekweremadu is the current Deputy Senate President. He has shown loyalty to his boss and he is a loyal party man too. Many of us are of the opinion that it is natural that he be supported by PDP senators and Saraki’s loyalists to emerge as the Senate President should the latter lose his position as a result of his ongoing trial.
“We have made this clear to the caucus and the party leadership and he is seriously being considered by all stakeholders as a good candidate for the job. Ekweremadu’s experience as a Deputy Senate President of many years is also a great advantage. He is well suited for the job and he is well loved by many of his colleagues,” another source revealed.
Ekweremadu is further tipped to emerge as the winner among the lot because of the quest by the South East geo-political zone to be represented among the top political office holders in the land.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, added: “The fact that he is from the South East is another factor working for him. Many senators will reason with the need to give the zone some sense of representation in the current arrangement.”
In the former governor’s case, it was gathered that he will win only if those who are opposed to Ekweremadu have an upper hand in deciding who replaces Saraki.
The Nation’s source stated: “Akpabio is the choice of those opposed to Ekweremadu for one reason or the other. He is also the candidate of his fellow ex-governors who are in Saraki’s camp or in PDP senate caucus. Their desire to ensure Ekweremadu is stopped from becoming Senate President may split the camp of pro-Saraki lawmakers.”
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| David Mark is tipped to return as the Senate President |
And as for Mark, it is believed that “Senator Mark is the real leader of the PDP caucus in the National Assembly. So, many of us feel he is the best man to be returned to the position after Saraki. His choice will also end the dangerous rivalry between the other groups and ensure that we do not lose the contest should the need arise.”
Since the beginning of his trial, Saraki has had to endure several forms of humiliation as he was reportedly stoned during his first Eid-el-Kabir prayer as the Senate president, while some groups have also called for his resignation following the case he has with the CCT.
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