Atiku Welcomes National Assembly Members' Decampment into PDP.

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Atiku Welcomes National Assembly Members' Decampment into PDP

24/07/2018.
6=43pm

Former Vice President of Nigeria and frontline presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar welcomes the decampment of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly into the Peoples Democratic Party remarking that it is an indication that the ruling party is a sinking ship.
Atiku notes that the decampment from the APC further explains the lack of capacity of the ruling party to hold and manage a political party, and indeed a government, and calls on the new entrants to see their decampment as a call to duty.

“The decision of a significant number of members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to leave the APC and decamp into the PDP clearly indicates that there is hope that the country can be rescued from the misrule of the APC government.

“I want to extol the courage of those legislators for standing up for a mission of salvaging our democracy, restoring the economy to make it work for Nigerians, creating opportunities for the teeming youth, promoting unity and security to lives and property.

“At such a time like this when the APC has brought our country to an all-time low in poor management of the economy and millions of Nigerians out of job; the daily killings of Nigerians while the police is being deployed to persecute political opponents – it is commendable that these lawmakers have chosen to be on the right side of the moment and history shall keep a noble account of their exceptional courage,” Atiku said.

The former Vice President congratulates the Peoples Democratic Party for presenting itself as a suitable platform for the new entrants.

He emphasized that the choice of the PDP as a preferred destination for them is an endorsement of the kind of leadership the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has provided since assuming office.

“Like I said at my declaration rally in Yola barely 72 hours ago, there are more mass defections from the APC into the PDP and it is important to mention that these defections signify a vote of no confidence in the APC-led government and the 2019 election is going to be a referendum of how the APC shattered the expectations of Nigerians”.

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APC Reacts To Defection Of 15 Senators, 36 House Of Reps Members

Below is a statement made available to PoliticsNGR, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bolaji Abdullahi, on the recent defection of 15 senators and 36 house of reps members;

The All Progressives Congress (APC) notes the development in the National Assembly with the defection of some of our members from the Party.

In the last couple of weeks, our Party leaders have worked to stave off this situation as responsible Party leaders would do. It would appear however that the individuals involved have different considerations beyond the grievances that they were willing to discuss and which our leaders were willing to address.

As a truly democratic party, we respect the right of every citizen to political association.

Therefore, we urge our members to remain calm as we continue to work hard to position our party strongly for the next general elections.

APC remains in firm control of 25 states of the 36 states of the federation and maintains a clear majority in the federal House of Representatives and state assemblies.

We assure members and supporters that our great Party will continue to consolidate on our majority status in the leadup to the 2019 General Elections, even as our government continue to work hard to deliver on our promises to Nigerians.

Blockade Of Saraki’s Home Must Have Been By His Security Aides, Police Claim

Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, has said that the blockade of the Abuja home of Senate President Bukola Saraki must have been by his own security aides, rather than by the Police. as widely reported.

Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon, said that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has consequently ordered a probe into the incidence.

The media had reported earlier on Tuesday that operatives of the Department of State Services and policemen laid siege to Saraki’s home in Abuja.

Saraki had also alleged that the siege was an attempt to stop some members of the Senate from defecting from the ruling party.

However, Moshood denied that the Police blocked Saraki from leaving his residence in the morning, noting that the “unathorised blockade” must have been carried out by his (Saraki’s) security aides.

He added that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered an investigation into the incident.

BREAKING: SECURITY AGENTS LAY SIEGE ON SARAKI, EKWEREMADU’S RESIDENCES

Security agencies are reportedly laying siege on the homes of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja.

The move is said to be an apparent ploy to prevent them from making it to the National Assembly today because of an alleged plan by lawmakers to decamp en masse from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Mr Saraki was summoned to appear at police department for further investigation into alleged killings in Kwara State at 8:00 a.m. today. It remained unclear why the police blocked his residence at dawn.

Reports said the planned cross carpeting, if allowed to take place, would render the APC a minority party before the end of Tuesday.
Mr Saraki’s special adviser on new media, Olu Onemola, confirmed the siege to PREMIUM TIMES.

The media aide to Mr Ekweremadu, Uche Anichukwu, also confirmed the siege to PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday morning.

“The house is currently surrounded by security agencies,” Mr Anichukwu said “since early in the morning.”
Mr Anichukwu is not sure if his boss will be allowed to attend today’s plenary.

“That I cannot say. When you attack a man’s house, how is he supposed to be at plenary?” he questioned.

Kola Ologbondiyan, a spokesperson for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Nigeria’s democracy was under assault, a development he said would be resisted.

“Democracy has been placed under a jackboot. We are now in a totalitarian government,” Mr Ologbondiyan told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Tuesday morning. “You can not stop the National Assembly, which is a key element of a constitutional republic.”
“We will resist this.”

A spokesperson for the APC did not immediately answer calls seeking comments.

The police are yet to provide reasons for the apparent siege. However, Mr Saraki was summoned by the police and asked to report by 8:00 a.m. to day in connection to the Offa robbery incident in Kwara State for which the police said some suspects mentioned Mr Saraki as a sponsor.

Details later…

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