PDP Senators Withdraw Support for Buhari’s Govt

Senators on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have formally resolved to totally withdraw their support for President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

The Senators said it was time to end their one-year romance with the government, noting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government actions toward their party members so far, since taking over the central government were enough agonies to withdraw their support.

The resolution was taken following the court summon on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, along with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules.

The Senators at a meeting which outcome was kept in secrecy, resolved to communicate their new position to the national leadership of the party, yesterday evening, after which it would be publicly announced at a press conference.

A competent source at the meeting who spoke to our correspondent, but pleaded not be named, said a delegation comprising one Senator from various geo-political zone, with the Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, was mandated to take the position of the PDP Senate caucus to the leadership and report back today.

We are expecting them to report back the outcome tomorrow (today) and from there, you would hear our position formally at a news briefing, ” he said.

Meanwhile, after several denials, the Federal High Court in Abuja , yesterday officially summoned the President of the Senate, Saraki, his Deputy, EKweremadu, former clerk to the National Assembly , Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and outgoing Deputy Clerk, Ben Efeturi, over their alleged involvement in the forgery of Senate Standing Order.

The summon was effected through a substituted service which was pasted at the corridor along the Senate President’s office. According to the summon, Saraki, Ekweremadu, Maikasuwa and Efeturi are to appear before the court on Monday, June 27, being next week.

Parts of the summons read: “By oral application dated 21st June, 2016 moved by D.E Kaswe, Principal State Counsel Federal Ministry of Justices in this case praying the court for:

An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the complainant/ applicant to serve the criminal summon on the defendants by substituted means to wit by pasting it at the Notice Board of the National Assembly Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

And after hearing D.E Kaswe with A.A Kaltingo Esq, counsel for the complainant/Applicant moved the court orally for the above relief. 

Also included in the summon, were statements already volunteered by the former clerk to the National Assembly, Maikasuwa and the outgoing Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Ben Efeturi on their alleged involvement in the forgery.

Maikasuwa in his own statement said: “The Senate Standing Orders used in seventh Senate was not known to me. The Clerk of the Senate is in position to know. I was not aware of the amendment that was made to the Standing rules.”

Also, in his statement, Efeturi said the Senate Leadership handed the 2015 Standing Rules as amended by their convention and practice to him.

The Senate Leadership handed the 2015 standing rules as amended by their convention and practice. Standing Orders 2003, 2007,and 2011 followed similar practice, “he said.

But the Senate in its first reaction to the allegation, stated that amendment of the standing rules was done by the National Assembly bureaucracy.

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