GODSWILL AKPABIO Schemes To Become Senate President

Prior to the resumption of the 8th National Assembly in 2015, Nigerians had looked forward to a robust and totally different federal legislative arm.

However, the events that played out at the two chambers made Nigerians to believe that it was ‘Not Yet Uhuru’ for the country.

The way the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki emerged with a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President was a totally novel idea to the people of the country.

Saraki had won election as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kwara State, where he had served as Governor from 2003 to 2011, and the APC had a majority in the Senate and the Federal House of Representatives.

Events that played out in the two chambers shocked millions of Nigerians, who predicted that it was a matter of time before Saraki would follow his heart.

The whole drama continued with many people believing that Saraki was one leg in and one leg out as a member of the APC.

This got to a climax last week, when Saraki led 13 other members of the APC to defect to the PDP.

To justify their exit, the defectors successfully created an impression of cracks in the party, since the constitution permits members to defect from a crisis-ridden party, the carving out of a ‘Reformed APC’ suggested division, which could warrant defection and attempted balkanisation.

Many people believed that the goal of the defectors is twofold – to disorganise and create confusion in the APC and discredit President Muhammadu Buhari through sustained propaganda ahead of next year’s elections.

Watchers of events were taken aback by the defection and wondered why Saraki would take such an action as an incumbent President of the Senate.

The die seems to have been cast now as information has it that the leadership of the party is ready to remove Saraki as the president of the senate in the coming weeks.

Sources revealed that arrangements are in top gear to show Saraki the way out as the President of the Senate, while the incumbent Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio would be sworn-in as the new Senate President as we gathered that he would be defecting to the APC any moment from now.

It was revealed that while the PDP has succeeded in wooing Bukola Saraki into it’s fold, the APC might also have succeeded in wowing Senator Godswill Akpabio into its fold.

A source told us that Akpabio feels sidelined in PDP and held a meeting with Asiwaju Tinubu early last week and also with VP Osinbajo last Thursday. “I think it is boom for the party cause the “catch,” Akpabio came into the Senate with over 953,000 votes while the defecting Senate President came in with a little over 300,000 votes.

We learnt that negotiations and horse trading are in top gear in Abuja and Akwa Ibom to perfect the defection which we gathered could happen any moment from now.

We were informed that the ruling APC has promised to give Akpabio the coveted seat if he agrees to cross to the party.

We were informed that the choice of Akpabio was strategic as it would make the party more popular and acceptable in the South South and give it a leverage in the 2019 general elections.

It is also believed that Akpabio has the temerity to tackle Saraki and ensure stability in the Senate.

Sources revealed that this was one of the reasons Akpabio met with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo last week and that all hands are on deck to ensure that the arrangement is positive.

A source informed us that Akpabio has agreed in principle and that with some of the responses elicited from him it is possible that the Minority Leader might follow his heart and dump the PDP anytime from now.

Investigation by First Weekly Magazine revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has told senior members of the APC that there was no way he could continue to work with Saraki with his alleged betrayal of trust.

“Buhari has perfected the plans with the leadership of the APC and I can assure you that Saraki would be removed in a matter of days.

“The leadership of the APC is no more comfortable with him and they believe that he is not worthy of the office he is presently occupying and that his cup is full,” said a source.