5 Senators declare support for Senate President

Contrary to reports making the rounds that some Senators are already shopping for a replacement for the Senate President,

The Senators, who held a press conference, said the false news is the work of Saraki’s detractors.

Premium Times reports that the five lawmakers are Senators Lanre Tejuoso, Ibrahim Rafiu, Peter Nwaoboshi, Isa Misau and Mr. Sabi.

The lawmakers in their statement said “The particular newspaper and their sponsors are simply undermining the judiciary by writing a story to pre-empt the outcome of a judicial process.

“They are playing God, forgetting that Saraki would not have been Senate President if God Almighty did not wish it. He is the only Senate President who in less than one year had votes of confidence passed by 85 of the 109 Senators. If we have a motion for confidence vote today, we are sure that 90 Senators will endorse the Senate President.”

“Let us make it clear, our position remains the same. The case against Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is not a case of corruption. It is a case of political persecution. Again, he remains innocent until the case has gone through the final floor of the judicial architecture. We have no doubt that the mischief will fail and so we are solidly behind him,” they added.

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The Senators also said “In the mischievous report aimed at prejudicing the CCT trial, a method typical of detractors who are behind this persecution called prosecution, they sought to present a case of division in the rank of the supporters of the Senate President by mentioning a Senator from Kwara North, without giving the name of the Senator. We have spoken with our colleague from Kwara North, Senator Shaaba Lafiagi and we can say it that he remains a loyal supporter of Dr. Saraki. He also told us he has never heard of any discussion about having a replacement for the Senate President. He further described the news story as mere speculation.”

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) will resume the trial of Senate President Bukola Sarakion March 10, 2016.