APC calls on Nigerians to condemn Senate President's abuse of office

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has once again condemned Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for his refusal to heed the ruling partys calls to reconvene the National Assembly to consider the budget for the 2019 general elections.

The national assembly adjourned legislative sittings till September 25 during plenary on July 24, amid a controversial clampdown by security operatives on Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in what has been described as a witch-hunt orchestrated by the executive.

The alleged witch-hunt raised even more concerns when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS)invaded the national assembly complex on Tuesday, August 7, 2018.

The APC has been putting public pressure on Saraki to reconvene the National Assembly, describing his actions of 'shutting down' parliament as bordering on high treason.

In a statement signed by the party's Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, on Friday, August 17, the APC once again demanded that the National Assembly should be reconvened to consider the budget sent by President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

The party accused Saraki of using the legislative arm to serve his own personal interests as well as the 'sinister ends' of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The statement read, "The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attempt to hide under the yet-to-be assented Electoral Act Amendment bill is an attempt to draw attention away from the treasonable actions of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki who has refused to convene the National Assembly to consider at plenary the crucial 2019 Election Budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

"The Electoral Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly is alive and awaiting assent. However, assent to Bills in all democratic governments reflects the prudence and discretion of the president in balancing the powers of key constitutional bodies and understanding the concerns of the executive.

"While we strongly condemn the abuse of office by the Senate President backed by his PDP cohorts in sabotaging the executive, specifically INEC, all well-meaning Nigerians have a duty to speak up and ensure that the National Assembly performs its constitutional role and not serve an individual’s personal interest and sinister ends of the opposition PDP.

"We call on all Nigerians, civil society and indeed the international community to resist the ongoing travesty and legislative rascality being perpetuated by the Senate President and the PDP. The sanctity of our electoral system is being threatened by this orchestrated sabotage and deliberate attempt to weaken INEC as we prepare for General Elections in 2019.

"The National Assembly must be convened immediately.

"Meanwhile, the PDP has realised that the 2019 elections has been won and lost. If the election is held today, it is clear that the APC will win by a landslide, judging by visible and landmark achievements recorded by the President Buhari administration.

"This is an apparent fact that gives the PDP sleepless nights, hence its daily lies and propaganda in its desperate, failed and early campaign to attract non- existent votes."

Why National Assembly won't reconvene soon - Saraki, Dogara

In a statement jointly issued by Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, August 14, they noted that recalling members of the National Assembly at the moment would be 'irresponsible' as joint Senate and House Committees don't yet have reports on the budget for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the 2019 general elections.

The APC has relentlessly called for Saraki's impeachment since he dumped the party for the PDP last month and both sides have made several public allegations of evil plots by the other party.

This was reiterated in Tuesday's statement when the party called on him to resign from his position as leader of the "APC majority Senate" or be dishonourably impeached.