The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went on war of words on Wednesday over an alleged plot by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to influence the emergence of leaders of the 9th National Assembly.
The APC alleged that it knew about steps being taken by Saraki, Dogara and the PDP caucus to influence the emergence of the next Senate president and other leaders of the ninth National Assembly.
It restated that the plan, which was aimed at blocking APC’s preferred candidates from becoming leaders, would fail.
The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekinni Nabena, said this while speaking with journalists in Abuja.
He stated, “We are aware of the scheming by Saraki, Dogara and the PDP caucus to interfere with the emergence of the incoming National Assembly leadership.
“Their plans are bound to fail as the APC is a strong party with unity of purpose.”
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Nabena also asked Saraki and Dogara to desist from manipulating the process, adding that the APC had learnt its lesson from what happened in the National Assembly in 2015 which led to the emergence of the outgoing leaders.
He berated the outgoing leaders, whom he called impostors. He also accused them of sabotaging the party and hijacking its mandate.
The party chief noted that party would not allow a repeat of the current scenario where outgoing leaders were allegedly frustrating efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari government to reposition the country.
Nabena added, “The APC has learnt its lesson from the outgoing National Assembly when impostors masquerading as party men sabotaged our party and hijacked our mandate. Affliction shall not rise up the second time.
“The efforts of the Adams Oshiomhole leadership of the party are commendable in achieving a fair selection and zoning arrangement that appeals to a greater section of the party stakeholders.
“The APC is the overwhelmingly majority party in the National Assembly and has a legitimate right to make its choices on the selection and zoning of principal offices.
“The APC family is in agreement on the party’s supremacy and the PDP and other opposition parties should focus on their minority positions.”
Recall that the APC’s plan is being threatened by the insistence of Senator Ali Ndume to contest the Senate presidency.