By Daniel Kanu
Fifteen senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday defected from their party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The senators in a joint letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made their intention known.
The letter reads:
Dear Senate President,
After due consultation, with our constituents and stakeholders in our constituency, in proper recognition section 16 (1G) of the 1999 constitution, and for the fact of our party, The All Progressives Congress, we hereby inform the Senate that we the undersigned;
Senators:
Dino Melaye
Barnabas Gemade
Ibrahim Danbaba
Shaaba Lafiaji
Mohammed Shitu
Rafiu Ibrahim
Suleiman Hunkuyi
Isa Misau
Monsurat Sunmonu
Soji Akanbi
Usman Nafada
Musa Kwankwaso
Suleiman Nazif
Lanre Tejuosho
We hereby inform that we are changing our political affiliation from APC TO PDP. We thank you for your exemplary leadership.
In a follow up announcement, Mr Saraki said, Senator Abdulazaz Nyako, has also announced his defection.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, whose Maitama home in Abuja was besieged by armed policemen in a desperate bid to prevent him from leaving the house earlier beat the security siege and arrived the National Assembly for the day’s plenary.
Mr Saraki entered the chamber at 10:40a.m. and took the prayer a minute after. But the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who faced the same ordeal was not in the red chamber as at the time of filing this report.
The security siege on his house was still on at 10:50 a.m.
Security agencies laid siege on the homes of both Saraki and Ekweremadu in Abuja.
The move which was an apparent ploy to prevent them from making it to the National Assembly today because of the plan by many lawmakers to decamp from the ruling APC to the PDP was confirmed to TheNiche by both the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, and Special Adviser Media to the PDP National Chairman, Ike Abonyi, in separate telephone interviews.
Saraki was summoned to appear at police department for further investigation into alleged killings in Kwara State at 8:00 a.m. today. Ekweremadu had no prior police invitation.
The planned cross carpeting, if allowed to take place, would render the APC a minority party before the end of Tuesday, a fact attested to by the Peoples Democratic Party leader in the House of Representatives on Monday.
“Our democracy is being viciously assaulted,” he told TheNiche on telephone. “We are now in a totalitarian government. We must rise and challenge this bourgeoning dictatorship. We (PDP) have always warned Nigerians. What they want to do now is take over the Senate chamber crudely. But they cannot stop the National Assembly, which is a key element of a constitutional republic from carrying out their duties. Nigerians must rise up and defend their democracy.”
Mr. Abonyi spoke in the same vein, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy has retreated. “Our democracy is already on flight. All these are happening just because they know that some lawmakers are poised to defect from the APC to the PDP this week.
“But what is happening is a sign of weakness, not strength on the part of teh Buhari president. it is the antics of a drowning man. This is sure going to be the proverbial last straw that will break the camel’s back. if what is happening today is their only response to the tsunami, then they have lost it.”
A spokesperson for the APC did not immediately answer calls seeking comments.
The police are yet to provide reasons for the siege. However, Mr Saraki was summoned by the police and asked to report by 8:00 a.m. today in connection to the Offa robbery incident in Kwara State for which the police said some suspects mentioned Mr Saraki as a sponsor.
Ekweremadu was scheduled to preside over today’s plenary following police’s invitation to Saraki last night.
Although Mr Saraki arrived the Senate and presided over plenary, the whereabouts of Mr Ekweremadu is uncertain.
As at 11:10 a.m. officials of the Nigerian police were still seen at all the entrances to the residence of deputy Senate president.
The three access roads to the house were blocked with a Toyota Coaster bus, two Toyota Hiace buses and a hilux van.
Some of the police officers also blocked an exit gate at the back of Mr Ekweremadu’s house that leads to a stream.
Asked if Mr. Ekweremadu will be arrested when he comes out, the officer declined to comment.
However, sources in the legislative quarters said Mr. Ekweremadu was not in the house.
His supporters were seen trooping into the legislative quarters in droves.