APC, Senate in war of words

The alleged impeachment threat on President Muhammadu Buhari published by Sahara Reporters have continued to generate reactions.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in a statement issued by its national secretary, MaiMala Buni on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 described the move as "laughable and a huge joke taken too far."

The party advised the "Senators in question" to concentrate on their primary constitutional responsibilities of law-making and discharge of their legislative mandates to their constituents.

The APC reiterated that the senators should not allow "political shenanigans" to becloud the overall national interest.

Reacting to the comments by the ruling party, the Senate on Thursday, July 14, 2016 expressed surprise that the APC leadership chose to make comments on "mere speculation and fabrication" by an online publication without seeking an explanation as to what transpired during the executive session on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.

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In a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said the comments credited to Buni, on the "falsehood being spread by SaharaReporters will merely give credibility to a news item which members of the public had disregarded, knowing the reputation of the source."

"We expected the party to at least explore all the options open to it to verify that piece of fabrication which is only the figment of the imagination of the writers and their sponsors. It should be clear to the APC leadership that if there is any truth to that story, it should have been credited to a particular Senator who was at the executive session.

"It is evident from our proceedings of yesterday (Wednesday) that the Senate itself was shocked that such a fabrication which constitute a breach of the privileges of the senators was published and that was why we mandated our committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions to investigate the source and circumstances leading to the emergence of such a fabrication.

"The party should always kindly seek to find out the truth about any statement, issue or development in the National Assembly before taking a public position as the comment by the party can further create tension and give a wrong impression, particularly when it is not founded on genuine or factual ground.

"We will like to assure the party that the Senate as an institution values the present democracy in our country and will not do anything that will undermine or weaken the system," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Senator Aliyu Wamakko has dismissed speculations that some clandestine meetings on heinous plans to impeach President Buhari were being held in his house.