The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, June 29, 2015 has insisted that the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must step down.
It was learnt that on that Monday, June 29, 2015 the ruling party was still pained that Senator Ekweremadu emerged as the Deputy Senate President and had stamped their feet never to allow “a senator from a minority party take over the duties statutorily assigned for the majority party.”
One of the chieftains of the APC who granted an interview on grounds of anonymity, stated that Senator Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President would orchestrate the hampering of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“As deputy senate leader, Ekweremadu is automatically the Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment. This is a sensitive position that, statutorily, should not be held by the minority.
“Ekweremadu and his PDP co-travellers will hamper the policies of the Buhari government. By the virtue of Senate rules, a member of the minority is not supposed to be the deputy senate leader; so, he is occupying the post illegally.
“We know the body language of some of these elements to anti-corruption. Nigerians know the stance of Buhari on corruption and insecurity. These elements occupying positions in the National Assembly must be removed. Otherwise, this administration is dead on arrival.
“The President has refused to see Saraki and Dogara since they emerged as senate president and speaker respectively. Both Saraki and Dogara have done everything possible to see the President but he has shunned them because he is not happy about their conduct. You can see that the President has seen the Lawan group; this shows where his support lies,” the party leader said.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee of the APC has a meeting slated for Tuesday, June 30, 2015, but has been re-scheduled for Friday, July, 3, 2015
The PUNCH reports that this was confirmed via a text message from the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
