REVEALED: Why Senate Sacked Ndume, ...The 'Coup', The EFCC Conundrum, How Saraki Used Him As Sacrificial Lamb

For speaking against the Senate over its failure to confirm the appointment of the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, members of the All Progressives Congress caucus in the chamber on Tuesday sacked the Majority Leader, Ali Ndume.

He was replaced with Senator Ahmed Lawan, who had been nominated by the APC to be President of the Senate, a position Senator Bukola Saraki is occupying.

Towards the end of plenary on Tuesday, Saraki, who presided over the session, read a letter written to him by the APC caucus in which its leadership was changed.

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The letter read, “This is to inform Your Excellency and the Senate that after several meetings held on Monday, 9th of January, 2017, and upon due deliberation and consultation, the APC caucus of the Senate hereby wishes  to notify you of the change in the leadership of the Senate, that the new Senate Leader is now Senator Ahmad Lawan, representing Yobe North Senatorial District.”

Ndume, who rushed to the Press Centre of the Senate shortly after the announcement, said the development caught him unawares.

He said, “Let me say I don’t have much to say because I was leading the business of the Senate and when it was like 12.45pm, as usual, I asked my deputy (Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah) to stand in for me while I go to pray.

“On coming back, I discovered that the session was over and one of your colleagues (journalists) approached me and said, “Leader, what happened?” And I asked what happened and he said there was an announcement of a change of leadership. I said I didn’t know. And at this point, that is the position. I didn’t know that there was change of leadership because I was not there; I went to pray and I didn’t know what actually happened and I cannot say much than that.”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sabi Abdullahi, who also briefed journalists after the plenary, said the decision was by the APC caucus and not the Senate as a whole.

He said, “…The Senate made the announcement and the announcement is self explanatory. Another leader was announced and as far as I am concerned, it is an announcement that somebody is announced as the new leader of the majority because it is the majority leader.”

A source close to the leadership of the Senate told one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity that members of the APC caucus were angered by Ndume’s recent activities in the Senate, one of which was his stance against the lawmakers, who rejected Magu’s nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari based on a security report by the Department of State Services, which indicted the nominee.

One of the pro-Lawan group of the APC senators under the auspices of the Senate Unity, Senator Kabir Marafa, however, told a select journalists after the announcement that the step was part of  the move to settle the dispute between Saraki, the Senate Unity Forum  and the APC leadership.

He said, “What you have seen today is just a culmination of all the pressure mounting over time.”

When asked why members of the caucus met in Ndume’s absence on the decision to sack him, Marafa stated that the rule did not make it compulsory for the former Senate Leader to have the knowledge of his sacking.

When asked if the APC had forgiven Saraki for hijacking the leadership of the Senate from the APC, Marafa said Ndume’s sacking was part of the moves to pacify the party.

Marafa also hinted that the caucus might be moving to reclaim Ekweremadu’s seat except the Deputy Senate President defected to the APC.

When asked how the APC would reclaim Ekweremadu’s seat if he failed to join the APC, Marafa retorted, “He will!”

Meanwhile, the APC has  supported  the replacement of   Ndume with  Lawan.

The APC, in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary,   Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, linked the development  to the party’s efforts to resolve the  crisis generated by the election of the Senate leadership.

It stated, “The party views this as concrete expression of faith by the APC Senate Caucus in our efforts to resolve the lingering issues that have trailed the election of Senate leadership.

 “We believe this is a major step forward in our efforts to reunite the various interest groups in that Senate election, thereby presenting a common legislative front for our great party.”

Culled From Punch Newspaper

Forgery Scandal: Things Fall Apart In Saraki's Camp As Ndume Joins Force With Buhari's Men

The crisis in the leadership of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly has taken a turn for the worst as a cold war has started  between Saraki and his deputy on one hand, and the Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume, on the other hand, Punch Newspaper reports this morning

It was revealed according to Punch Newspaper that trouble started when Saraki allegedly discovered that Ndume was not on the same page with him on the crisis he was having with the Presidency.

A ranking senator, who craved anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, confided in one of our correspondents during the week that Saraki suddenly discovered that Ndume, who was allegedly close to the Presidency, was no longer pleading his case whenever he was in the Villa.

The senator explained that since his emergence as senate leader, Ndume allegedly warned Saraki to be wary of Ekweremadu and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the red chamber who might want to pitch him against the presidency.

He was said to have specifically advised Saraki to avoid any form of confrontation with President Muhammadu Buhari, but should rather do everything possible to support his administration, so that the latter would extend a hand of fellowship to him.

The source said, “The trouble between Saraki and Ndume started when some of Saraki’s ‘men’ in the Villa started feeding the Senate President with reports of how Ndume had allegedly joined members of the Senate Unity Forum to work against him and Ekweremadu.

“Don’t forget, Ndume contested for deputy senate president against Ekweremadu in this Eighth Senate. His initial intention was to be senate president before realignment between him and Saraki made him to settle for deputy senate president.

“It was when Saraki discovered that all attempts by him to see President Buhari did not succeed despite Ndume’s assurances that he started listening to other close colleagues, who advised him to adopt a confrontational strategy against the Presidency.”

Attempts to speak with the Senate President on the issue failed as he is currently on Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia, while calls put across to his deputy did not also connect.

However, when contacted, the Senate Leader denied knowledge of any face-off between him and the presiding officers of the senate.

Ndume said, “I am not aware of any crack in the Senate leadership. In fact, I am hearing that for the first time.”

But some of Saraki and Ekweremadu’s aides, who spoke with one of our correspondent off the record in separate interviews, confirmed that Ndume was no longer on the same page with the Senate presiding officers.

An aide to Saraki said, “It is true. Ndume is no longer on our side but there is no cause for alarm. We have taken necessary measures. We have been observing him for quite some time now but he has shown to us where he belongs.”

Likewise, an aide to Ekweremadu, who equally spoke on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the crack in the Senate leadership, stressing that Ndume had finally fallen apart with Saraki and his boss.

He said, “The truth of the matter is that the crisis did not start today. It was when the Senate President realised that he was being misled by the senate leader that they fell apart.”

Forgery Suit: Jittery Saraki's Secret Plea With Arch-Enemy, Ahmed Lawan Group To Withdraw Suit FAILS

The embattled President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki in an 11th minutes efforts to get a hook off his forgery suit has reportedly begged his arch-enemy, Senator Ahmed's Lawan group who had earlier filed the Senate Standing Rules FORGERY SUIT against him  and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. in the court

Punch Newspaper says, the Senate leadership in an effort to frustrate the scheduled arraignment of its presiding officers, Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, at a Federal Capital Territory High Court, failed on Wednesday during a closed session that lasted for about two hours.

 It was learnt that the leadership had suggested the withdrawal of the case by the litigants, who are members of the Senate Unity Forum, a suggestion that the affected persons turned down on the grounds that the case was now being handled by the Federal Government.

Saraki, according to a Senator, who spoke to Punch Newspaper correspondents on condition of anonymity because it was against the Senate convention to disclose issues discussed in the execute session, appealed to the litigants to withdraw the case in line with the recommendations of the peace committee.

The Senate Peace and Reconciliation Committee, led by Senator James Manager, had, in its report, recommended among others, the withdrawal of the suit, the recomposition of the committees and the disbandment of groups within the Senate.

One of our correspondents learnt that members of the SUF, who took the case to court, said the matter was now beyond them as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, had taken over the case.

The source added, “The senators, who went to court, were of the opinion that the case had attained another dimension because it was the Federal Government that is now prosecuting those who allegedly produced the fake document.”

A copy of the document obtained on Wednesday showed that the panel accused Saraki of unduly favouring some members in appointments to juicy committees.

The panel recommended the restructuring of the committees so that the aggrieved senators would be pacified.

Saraki currently facing double criminal charges bothering on corruption at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over dishonest assets declaration  and  the forgery of Senate Standing rule that cornered him and Ekweremadu to lead the 8th senate.

Intrigues As Kwara Senator, David Mark, Ekweremadu, Ndume, Others Eye Saraki's Seat At The Senate

Daily Trust - High-level political machinations have commenced underground at the upper chamber of the National Assembly over who may eventually succeed Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President, as his trial over allegation of false assets declaration begins at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Daily Trust on Sunday digs into the unfolding battle for the coveted Number Three seat.

Ahead of the commencement of the trial of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on a 13-count charge bordering on false declaration of assets, his colleagues in the Senate have begun scheming for his possible replacement, Daily Trust on Sunday has gathered.

The move received a boost last week when the tribunal dismissed Saraki’s application, asking it to drop the charges, citing procedural errors.

The embattled Senate President had argued through his counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) that the failure of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to invite him, as required by law, to explain the alleged discrepancies in his assets declaration form had invalidated the charges.

However, while giving its ruling on March 24, the tribunal dismissed the application, saying the CCB did not breach the law by filing charges at the CCT against Saraki. 

In the ruling, the tribunal’s chairman, Danladi Umar, held that the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1989, allowed Saraki to raise his clarifications at the level of the tribunal. The ruling, therefore, set the stage for commencement of the trial, on one hand, and powerful plots, on the other. 

The Senate President had earlier lost an appeal at the Supreme Court, where he had gone trying to get the apex court to stop his trial at the CCT.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that soon after the verdict clearing the course for the trial, senators with interest in the Senate Presidency began strategizing on how to take over from Saraki, holding surreptitious meetings where they canvassed for the support of their colleagues.

The senators are gunning for the most coveted seat in the Red Chamber, believing that it is only a matter of time before it becomes vacant. 

The senators eyeing Saraki’s job, some lawmakers disclosed, are both from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has the majority in the Upper Chamber, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has the second highest number of senators.

The possibility of the PDP making an attempt to clinch the position in the face of its minority status at the Senate first became obvious on Thursday, when its member representing Delta South and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaboshi, declared that the party would produce the next Senate President if Saraki is removed.

The plots 

Recently, there have been series of secret meetings by all camps at the Upper Chamber with the sole aim of producing a united front ahead of an expected post-Saraki era.

It was learnt that the APC caucus, which was facing sharp division, started its meeting with truce talks spearheaded by the former Governor of Sokoto, Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

The meeting, which started in the office of Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC Katsina South), succeeded in bringing key actors in the warring camps of the APC together.

In Saraki’s camp, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima (APC, Zamfara West), Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central), Senator Wamakko and Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) attended the meetings. Senator Yarima nominated Saraki for the Senate Presidency last year. 

From the Ahmed Lawan’s Unity Forum camp, Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North), Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos East) Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC, Katsina South) and Senator Lawan (APC, Yobe North) participated in the meetings held four times at the residence of Wamakko in Abuja.

It was gathered that the APC senators were forced to cement their crack following the moves by the PDP senators to snatch the Senate Presidency seat from the APC.

It was further learnt that the PDP caucus has been holding marathon secret meetings on how to take over the Senate Presidency, with the final strategy meeting held outside the National Assembly on Wednesday, which had the party’s national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, in attendance.

Making public, for the first time, the agenda of the meetings, Senator Nwaboshi said they had perfected plans to produce the next Senate President if Saraki was forced out of the seat.

“If, but God forbid, because we don’t see it coming, by chance Saraki is removed, I can tell you that the PDP will produce the next Senate President. We only need three and we have it. The calculation is very clear to me. The calculation is very clear for PDP. We know what it will take us,” he said.

An analysis of the strength of the party at the Senate shows that the APC has 58 senators, PDP 44 and LP one in the person of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of Delta Central. Six seats are still vacant in the Red Chamber, as the reruns for six senatorial districts are yet to be conducted. At the inception of the Eighth Senate in June last year, APC had 59 and PDP 49, while one seat was vacant. 

PDP: We’ll Jump at It

Also opening up on the PDP quest to snatch the Senate Presidency, the former governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu, said they would jump at the opportunity if Saraki was sacked. 

“We will jump at the opportunity and take the seat, since we have lost the Presidency. I didn’t attend the latest meeting on it, but we have the capacity to take it over because we are united,” he said in a phone chat. 

It was widely believed that the PDP members are planning to relaunch the party, which was defeated at the 2015 general elections, with the Senate Presidency.

The Contenders 

High ranking senators confided in Daily Trust on Sunday that five names are being touted by various camps in the Red Chamber as the likely successor of Saraki.

Abdullahi Adamu

Impeccable sources in the Like Minds camp supporting Saraki told our correspondent that they were weighing the option of Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) as Saraki’s likely successor.

Senator Adamu was a two-term governor of Nasarawa State, from 1999 to 2007, on the platform of the PDP. He decamped to the APC in 2014 and is the chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture.

According to sources in the Like Minds group, the former governor was being considered for the job in order to retain the position in the North-Central geopolitical zone, where the current Senate president comes from. 

   

Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi

Another APC senator that the group is considering for the job is Senator Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, representing Kwara North Senatorial District. Lafiagi’s name made the list because in addition to coming from the North-Central zone, he hails from the same Kwara State as Saraki and was said to be a beneficiary of the Saraki political dynasty in Kwara.

A prominent member of the Saraki’ camp told our correspondent that meetings were secretly being held at the residence of a former governor in Abuja.

“If I’m to be in Saraki’s shoes, I will resign and concentrate on my trial, but since he has not, we don’t want to be caught off guard, hence we are looking another way round,” he said.

The senator, who said the candidature of Adamu was being promoted by some former governors who are influential in the Senate, added that senators in another faction in the same Saraki camp were pushing for Lafiagi, with a view of retaining the position in Kwara State.

Ahmed Lawan

Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (APC, Yobe North) who has been at the National Assembly since 1999 was the preferred candidate of the APC for the Senate plum job last year, but Saraki in alliance withPDP senators pushed him aside.

Members of the Lawan camp are relying heavily on the backing and support of the Presidency and that of the leadership of their party, especially the national leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

It was gathered that Saraki deferred the plan to suspend Senator Marafa from the Upper Chamber, following ‘warnings from the powers that be.’ The return of Senator George Akume (APC, Benue-Northwest) from a medical trip that lasted weeks has boosted the chances of the Lawan camp.

“The presidency is still with us because of the stance of President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue. Whether they like it or not, one day they will fall. We are watching as the trial progresses,” a senator in the camp said.

Ali Ndume

Another senator whose name is ringing bell in the Upper Chamber as a likely successor for Saraki is the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South).

When the Senate was inaugurated in last June, Ndume contested for the deputy senate President seat, but he was defeated by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on the strength of PDP alliance with Saraki.

Sources told our correspondent that the continued re-echoing of Ndume’s name as a contender for the seat has upset the loyalists of Saraki who are seeing him as one of their own. Ndume, a second time senator, stepped up from the House of Representatives to the Upper Chamber in 2011.

Sources close to him said the Borno-born senator has his eyes set on the Senate Presidency.  

The chances of the duo of Lawan and Ndume are being hindered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who happened to be from Bauchi State in the North-East, the same geopolitical zone as the two.

Ike Ekweremadu

It was gathered that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is said to be in the race. 

Ekweremadu is favoured by the ranking rules of the Senate.  He has been at the Upper Chamber since 2003 and Deputy Senate President since 2007. 

It was widely believed that Saraki rewarded the PDP with the Deputy Senate President seat following his alliance with them in June last year. 

Observers are of the view that the PDP is trying to repeat the Aminu Tambuwal’s episode of the House of Representatives that dealt a deadly blow to the party.

The return of the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark (PDP, Benue South) to the Red Chamber has brightened the chances of the PDP to clinch the post should it slip off Saraki’s hand.

Mark, aside from being the most ranking senator, was said to be a key player in the emergence of senate presidents since 1999. It is on record that he played immeasurable role in the emergence of Saraki.

Contrary to reports, our correspondent gathered that Mark is not interested in staging a comeback. 

Two APC senators from the North told our correspondent that they were trying to unite to deflate the plans of the PDP senators.

“We are fully aware of the plot of the PDP to take over the seat in case Saraki falls, but we are working to block them. We know their game plan and this is why we are trying to close our ranks for the benefit of our party and Nigerians in general who voted them out and brought us in,” an APC senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

When contacted, the Senate Leader, Ndume, said the Saraki issue was being overblown by the public. “Do you know that I am still in court on a more serious issue? The President of the Senate is in court for assets declaration, but I am in court for a more serious issue, that I am an alleged sponsor of Boko Haram

“I have been in court for four years, so why is it not an issue? I have not complained, it is not a big deal, I am still the Leader of the Senate and my role is as important as that of the President of the Senate, but it is not a big deal. Why are you making his case a big deal?” he said. 

On whether he was eyeing the seat or not, Ndume said “It is Allah that gives power and He gives it to whoever He deems fit and at anytime.”

Also, the spokesperson of the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, denied that other senators were coveting his boss’ seat, saying Saraki enjoyed the support of the overwhelming number of his colleagues.

“That is an old story which has been debunked by many leading senators. I refer you to the interview by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Senator Peter Nwaoboshi. That is why he has continued to perform his duties unperturbed, even with the so much hyped CCT case, “he said.

Also, one of the aides of Senator Ekweremadu, who pleaded anonymity, described the report that his boss was jostling to succeed Saraki as an ‘APC scam and propaganda to keep pressure’ on the Senate President.

“My boss doesn’t even foresee Saraki’s removal, let alone jostle to succeed him,” he said.

APC Senators Peace Talks Upset Saraki's PDP Alliance

The ongoing peace talks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate caucus have upset the alliance of the Senate president Bukola Saraki with the senators of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Resting on the strength of the PDP on June 9 last year, Saraki emerged the Senate president against the wish of the APC leadership. His party had preferred Senator Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North) but he dribbled the party to clinch the seat. As at then, the APC had 59 and the PDP had 49 senators.

Since then, it has been from one crisis to the other for the Senate president, the heir of the Saraki political dynasty in Kwara State. The crisis was solely in the caucus of the APC as the PDP were united.

Apparently, to settle the PDP senators for their support towards his emergence, Saraki rewarded them with committees considered to be juicier than the ones allocated to members of his party, excluding the former governors.

It was in November last year that he constituted the committees and gave APC 41 and PDP 24. Specifically, it was gathered that Saraki jerked up the committees from 57 to 65 without amending the Senate standing rules, to accommodate his supporters.

Not satisfied with the constitution of the committees, spokesman of the Unity Forum of Lawan, Senator Kabiru Marafa, kicked against the increase in the number of committees, saying it was done in violation of their rules.

Until three weeks ago, the APC Senate caucus has been in red with the Lawan’s camp dishing out missiles at intervals. 

For instance, when Saraki lost his bid to stop his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Marafa apparently acting the script of his camp called for the resignation of Senate president.

Saraki is facing a 13-count charge at the CCT bordering on false assets declaration while he was governor of Kwara State. Though, members of Saraki’s camp have reaffirmed their support for him, the call for his resignation caused uproar at the National Assembly.

The feud in the APC camp almost led to the suspension of one of the party’s senators. Marafa’s case at the ethics, privileges and public petitions committee is still hanging. The committee has recommended his suspension.

Realising the danger of the crack in their fold, three weeks ago, the APC caucus began a truce moves. Before the start of the peace talks, there were reports that the Senate presidency could be hijacked by the PDP in case Saraki falls.

The APC talks started from the office of a ranking senator from the north with key players of the two camps in attendance. The truce talks have since then become regular with former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko playing a lead role.

Sources told our correspondent that five people have been elected from each of the camps.

The Saraki camp is being represented by Ahmed Sani Yarima (APC, Zamfara West), Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), Adamu Aliero ( Kebbi Central), Wamakko and Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe central).

The Lawan camp, Unity Forum, was represented by Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi(APC, Kaduna North), Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos East) Abu Ibrahim (APC, Katsina South) and Lawan (APC, Yobe North).

It was gathered that at the meeting of truce committee held at the Abuja residence of Wamakko, the camps unanimously agreed to amend the Senate standing orders to reflect the eight newly created committees.

Also, the truce committee has agreed that the composition of the 65 committees be reviewed to accommodate APC senators that were sidelined in the present arrangement.

Wamakko and Marafa have since confirmed the ongoing truce talk, and said it was in the interest of their party and the generality of Nigerians.

With the accord, our correspondent reports that some of the committees allocated to the PDP senators may be taken and reallocated to the APC senators.

A senator from Lawan’s camp told our correspondent that they are planning to complete the truce talk before the end of the Easter break.

“We have agreed to legalise the newly created committees. We also agreed to adjust the membership of the committees to carry members of our party along. We are yet to finalise talks on the last condition which is to respect our party’s position,” he said.

One of the senators in Saraki’s camp who attended the meeting told our correspondent that the truce move was yielding the desired result.

“If you look at the Senate now, you will appreciate the importance of our truce talks. It is our party that Nigerians voted for and not the PDP, so we will not allow them to hijack our success,” he said.

To counter the APC moves, the PDP senators on Wednesday through Thursday had marathon meetings where the issue and others were discussed. The PDP National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff attended the first leg of the PDP Senate caucus.

One of the senators that attended the meeting said they reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of their party.

“You know the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, is our political armoury and arsenal. We will utilise it very well to launch our party,” a senator from the southeast said.

But in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, said INEC had no reason whatsoever to withhold the results of Rivers State rerun elections, where three senatorial seats are being contested. 

The PDP senators also called on President Muhammadu  Buhari  to support the ongoing commission of enquiry investigating the killings in the Rivers re-run elections with a view to bringing perpetrators to justice .

The communique reads: “The caucus noted the reports from the just concluded rerun elections in Rivers State, particularly the declaration of results in units, wards and local government collation centres and resolved accordingly:

“That lNEC should as a matter of urgency, release the outstanding results in the Rivers State rerun elections particularly results that were collated from all polling units/wards/local government areas in their possession with immediate effect.”

How APC, PDP stand at Senate

Our correspondent reports that at the inception of the Senate in June last year, the APC had firm control of the upper chamber with 59, PDP 48 senators and the seat of Borno Central was vacant.

The parties maintained the number until in November when Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai was sworn for the Borno Central senatorial district, thus APC added one, making 60.

It was observed that the nullification of some senatorial district elections in November and December gave PDP an upper hand at the red chamber.

In the north, the PDP won two senatorial seats in Nasarawa South and Kogi Central, while the APC only got one, Taraba Central.

At the moment, the APC has 58, PDP 44 and LP has a senator in the person of Ovie Omo-Agege of Delta Central. The re-run for six senatorial districts are being conducted.

Excerpted from Daily Trust

Battle Against Saraki Still On - Lawan Group Denies Peace Pact

Premium Times - A prominent member of a group of senators opposed to the election of Bukola Saraki as Senate President, has denied that a meeting between his group and supporters of Mr. Saraki, Wednesday, sought to canvass support for the embattled senate leader who is a facing corruption trial.

Kabiru Marafa, the spokesperson of the so-called Unity Forum, said the meeting with the Like Minds group was beyond Mr. Saraki, and was about forging a united All Progressives Congress, APC.

The meeting was rare given the antagonistic past of the two sides. Held at the Asokoro residence of Aliyu Wammakko, a former Sokoto State governor, the meeting had in attendance 10 senators – five from each of the two camps.

Mr. Wammakko had told PREMIUM TIMES “the meeting has brought an end to crisis in the Senate between APC Senators who now support the Senate President, Bukola Saraki”.

A member of the anti-Saraki group also told PREMIUM TIMES they had given conditions for reconciliation. One of the demands was the reconstitution of senate committees in favour of APC senators.

But speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Mr. Marafa said the meeting was not convened to “rally around Saraki”.

“What brought about the meeting at Senator Wamakko’s residence was the realization that we the APC Supporters should unite in the interest of our party and the objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Mr. Marafa said.

He said in view of Mr. Saraki’s trial the Code of Conduct Tribunal, it was imperative for APC Senators to unite and bury their differences to forestall a situation where PDP will take over the Senate Presidency should Mr. Saraki lose.

Mr. Marafa confirmed that the meeting agreed that the composition of the committees be reviewed.

“Our committees are illegal; so, it is agreed that they will now be according to the law,” he said.

Also, the issue of members of the Unity Forum who were “disenfranchised” in the composition of the committees would be addressed, Mr. Marafa said, adding that “and number three, we should be united and work together as one party because of our party and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

“Burying our differences to work together as one or saying no more crisis with our colleagues who supported Saraki is not same as saying we backed down and rallied around the Senate President at this time,” Mr. Marafa in reaction to PREMIUM TIMES’ earlier report on the meeting.

“That is capable of damaging my reputation and character. I have been receiving calls since morning from everywhere from people asking if we were abandoning the struggle.

“I would have made all the money in the course of this fight. I would have got any committee I wanted. But we have stayed firm. So, why will I now announce rallying around Saraki?

“The meeting is about our party and government, not anybody,” Mr. Marafa said.

BREAKING: Saraki, Ahmed Lawan Settle Rifts Over Senate Presidency Ahead Tomorrow's CCT Ruling

The senate leadership rift between the Senator Ahmed Lawan's Unity Forum and the Senate President Bukola Saraki's, Like Minds have been resolved, report according to Premium Times says

According to Premium Times, some All Progressives Congress senators who opposed the election of Bukola Saraki as Senate President, held a rare meeting Tuesday with Mr. Saraki’s key supporters from the same party, casting aside differences that for months polarised the ruling party’s senate caucus.

The meeting between the anti-Saraki group’s so-called Unity Forum and pro-Saraki’s Like Minds, had in attendance 10 senators – five from each of the two camps. It took place at the Asokoro residence of Aliyu Wammako, a former Sokoto State governor.

Mr. Wamakko confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the talks held.

The two sides had for months opposed the other, with some members of Unity Group pushing for Mr. Saraki’s removal.

The two groups emerged in the run up to the election of the Senate’s principal officers.

Mr. Saraki won the top seat in defiance of his party, APC’s decision to support his challenger, Ahmed Lawan.

Unity Forum’s most outspoken member, Kabiru Marafa, recently called for Mr. Saraki’s in view of the senate president’s ongoing trial for alleged false declaration of assets.

Tuesday’s meeting had in attendance Mr. Lawan, Mr. Marafa, Gbenga Ashafa, and Suleiman Hukunyi as part of the group’s team.

SENATORS WHO ATTENDED THE PEACE MEETING

One the other side, the Like Minds were represented by Danjuma Goje, Mr. Wammako, Sani Yerima, Kabiru Gaya and Adamu Aliero.

Speaking exclusively to PREMIUM TIMES at the end of the meeting which ended around 6.50 PM, Mr. Wammako said the meeting was held to end the crisis that hit the APC caucus following Mr. Saraki’s emergence as senate president.

He said it was high time the Senators belonging to the ruling party agreed to work together in the interest of Nigeria and to support President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Effectively the meeting has brought an end to crisis in the Senate between APC Senators who now support the Senate President, Bukola Saraki,” Mr. Wamako said.

This development came ahead of Mr. Saraki’s day at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday when the tribunal is expected to rule on his motion for the dismissal of the case against him on grounds of procedural error.

Another Senator, a member of the Unity Forum, who attended the meeting but asked that his identity be protected, said the meeting had three outcomes and that both sides agreed “to have a united APC caucus”.

The Senator said the first outcome was that the composition of Senate committees be reviewed to conform with the Standing Rules of the Senate.

He said an upward review of the number of the committees must follow due process as prescribed the section 60 of the Senate Rules.

The second point, he said, was that committees should also be reconstituted to “favour APC Senators”.

He said it was finally agreed that the APC caucus henceforth be “loyal to our party and be committed to its objectives”.

“The number three point is the supremacy of our party, loyalty to our leaders and support for President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

He said the “the meeting was held in the interest our party and Nigeria”.

Asked if the meeting was held to settle the longstanding Saraki row, he said, “It is beyond Saraki”. But he added that “there is no crisis between us again”.

“This man (Saraki) is in court and anything can happen.

“So APC Senators must come together and unite; otherwise, if anything happens to Saraki in the court PDP Senators who are very united may take over the Senate.

“And that would be a very great disservice to our party, the President and Nigerians who voted for change.

“So, we are now uniting like PDP Senators and are settling our differences,” the Senator said.