No secret zoning of PDP NWC offices – Ekweremadu

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senetor Ike Ekweremadu, has said that there is no tension within the Peoples Democratic Party.

Ekweremadu

He said there was no secret zoning of national offices of the PDP by some of the party’s leaders as being rumoured.

He described those peddling such rumour as authors of confusion, adding that such people did not wish the party well and that they were scared of PDP’s steady resurgence after the 2015 general elections.

The PDP National Executive Committee early in the week mandated the National Working Committee to set up a team that would determine how to zone its national offices.

Our correspondent gathered that the delay in setting up the team among three other committees as directed by the NEC necessitated the fear in some quarters about alleged secret zoning of offices.

But Ekweremadu debunked the rumour.

He said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that the national leadership of the party did not hold any secret meeting on the issue.

Ekweremadu said, “There is, so far, no meeting, secret or open, where all or a few PDP party leaders met to zone the National Working Committee offices of the party.

“The PDP’s constitution is clear on how the party can arrive at a zoning formula. Besides, it should be clear to all that the days of any form of impunity and underhandedness within Africa’s biggest party are gone.

“We are committed to returning fully to the founding principles and philosophies of the PDP.

“Therefore, there can never be any secret zoning of PDP’s NWC positions or any other office for that matter. Such exists only in propaganda rooms and imaginations of those who are afraid that we are steadily reinforcing, reforming and coming back stronger to give the nation a more purposeful leadership.”

While urging Nigerians to disregard the report, Ekweremadu added, “The PDP will soon convene a meeting of the relevant stakeholders and organs of the party as stipulated by our constitution to come up with a clear zoning of the national offices of the party in a transparent, democratic and fair manner.”

No secret zoning of PDP NWC offices – Ekweremadu

Forged Senate rules: Ekweremadu loses bid to stop court judgment

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Fede‎ral High Court in Abuja on Wednesday snubbed the move by the Deputy Senate President, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, to stop‎ him from delivering his reserved judgment in a suit challenging the leadership election of the 8th Senate.

Ekweremadu

Justice Ademola declared on Wednesday that he would go ahead to deliver his judgment on a date which he would later communicate to the parties through their lawyers except if the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, directed otherwise.

“The court having adopted parties’ written addresses on December 14, 2015, the court will give it’s judgment on a date that will be communicated to parties through their counsel unless the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court directs otherwise,” Justice ruled while adjourning the case on Wednesday.

The elections which produced Dr. Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Ekweremadu as his deputy is being challenged by five Senators of the All Progressives Congress on the grounds that their (Saraki’s and Ekweremadu’s) elections on June 9, 2015, when the 8th Senate was proclaimed was conducted using forged version of the Senate Standing Orders.

The plaintiffs in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/651/2015, are Senators Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi  Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi.

Ekweremadu is the second defendant in the suit.

The other defendants are Saraki, the National Assembly, the Clerks of the National Assembly and the Clerk of the Senate.

While Saraki is of the APC like the plaintiffs, Ekweremadu is of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Forged Senate rules: Ekweremadu loses bid to stop court judgment

Ekweremadu is a gentleman - Bukola Saraki

By Henry Umoru

President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki has described his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as a perfect example for Nigerian politicians, saying that he has no regret working with him.

Bukola Saraki

Senator Saraki spoke as Senator Ekweremadu described his re-emergence as Senator and Deputy President of the Senate as an act of God.

The two spoke at a civic reception at the country home of Senator Ekweremadu, in Mpu, Enugu State, shortly after a special thanksgiving service, where Ekweremadu rededicated himself to service to Nigeria and mankind.

Senator Saraki in his address, described Senator Ekweremadu as a man, who every Nigerian politician should look forward to working with.

He said: “For we politicians, it is always better to get close to know somebody because in our meetings in the 7th Senate, myself  and him were far apart, but in this current Senate, I am the first person to tell a few people that Senator Ekweremadu is a perfect gentleman. You are a perfect gentleman and I repeat that many times and you are a good example for we politicians.

“He is the type of Nigerians that we will want to continue to serve because he only sees things for the good of Nigeria. I am grateful to be working with you and I will continue to assure you that we will continue to work closely for the interest of this great country.”

Earlier at the special thanksgiving service by his family, Ekweremadu recalled his journey back to the Senate, saying, “about two years ago, nobody would have believed that we will be here talking about Ike Ekweremadu being a Senator again, let alone being the Deputy President of the Senate. But, by the grace of God, I am today not only the Senator representing Enugu West, but also the Deputy President of the Senate.

“We went through very tumultuous primaries that almost divided our state along the line, but we thank God that today Enugu is united and peaceful.

“After the elections, PDP lost control of the National Assembly and many people thought we were finished, but we went into political engineering and I want to thank my colleagues for that long night. We decided that when we got to the chamber in the morning, we were going to perform wonders and when the time came for the inauguration of the Senate, I was re-elected Deputy President of the Senate. It was the will of God.”

Ekweremadu is a gentleman - Bukola Saraki

Drama as Tinubu ‘takes over’ Ekweremadu’s seat

 

Senators who are members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party created an hilarious scene on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, when they stopped the member representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, from addressing the chamber from the seat of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu
Credit: Punch News

The drama ensued when the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, asked the wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress to second a motion moved by Senator Kabiru Gaya, who was seeking the approval of the red chamber for him to submit the report of his committee on the $200m foreign loan being sought by Lagos State.

Mrs. Tinubu was seated on Ekweremadu’s seat who was conspicuously absent from plenary when she was asked to second the motion.

However, no sooner than she put on the microphone on the seat of the deputy senate president than the PDP senators, protested against her action, and insisted that she should relocate to her seat to speak.

Attempt by Mrs. Tinubu to explain that she was on Ekweremadu’s seat because the microphone on her own seat was not working was rebuffed by the PDP senators.

She left angrily for her own seat and attempted to use her dysfunctional microphone to convince the PDP senators that she was speaking the truth.

Mrs. Tinubu then went to a seat close to hers, and sought the permission of her neighbour to make use of his microphone.

It was after she got the permission of the senator sitting beside her that she was able to address her colleagues.

She nevertheless returned to Ekweremadu’s seat and sat down there for over one hour the plenary lasted.

Meanwhile, the Senate on Wednesday inaugurated the Senate Committee on Appropriation and six other standing committees.

The committees and their chairmen included Appropriation, Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe Central); Finance, John Enoh (PDP-Rivers Central); Banking, Insurance and other financial institutions, Rafiu Ibrahim (APC-Kwara North); and the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abubakar Kyari (APC-Borno North).

Others are committees on Public Accounts, Andy Uba, (PDP-Anambra South); National Security and Intelligence, Sha’aba Lafiagi, (APC-Kwara North); and Communications, Gilbert Nnaji, (PDP-Enugu East).

Inaugurating the committees, Saraki urged the members to hit the ground running in view of the need to reposition the economy.

He urged them to be innovative in the discharge of their oversight functions.

He also advised them to observe ethical standards in the discharge of their duties, adding that any committee member found wanting would be adequately dealt with.

He said, “The Senate will continue to support the committees particularly in terms of funding. We are also assuring government institutions of our readiness to work with them in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.”

Saraki added that the Ad hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda would be charged with the responsibility of monitoring the performance of the committees.

He also charged the INEC committee to ensure that the gains of democracy were not eroded.

Drama as Tinubu ‘takes over’ Ekweremadu’s seat

I escaped assassination attempt –Ekweremadu

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, claimed that he escaped assassination attempt, from suspected armed men on Tuesday in Abuja.

The assassination attempt, according to him, occurred around 10am between Apo Flyover and Dantata Construction Company’s yard, close to the Old Central Bank of Nigeria Headquarters junction, on his way to work.

Ekweremadu, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Uche Anichukwu, on Tuesday explained that the suspected assassins operated in a tinted, white-coloured Mercedez Benz AMG E63 without a number plate.

He said they were chauffeured by a long-bearded light skinned foreigner, apparently a mercenary.

The vehicle, which was positioned by the Apo Bridge, on noticing that the deputy senate president’s convoy, took the right turn to join the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway instead, and made a U-turn.

The statement added that the occupants attempted to attack the convoy, but were blocked.

The driver, it stated, violently broke into the convoy and made several frantic attempts to attack the Senator’s official car.

The statement added, “When charged at by the security operatives attached to Ekweremadu, the Benz driver made a U-turn, and partially smashed an oncoming vehicle on the opposite lane of the highway and escaped.”

It explained that the development had already been reported to the security agencies.

I escaped assassination attempt –Ekweremadu

Why Ekweremadu didn"t preside over senate ministerial screening in Saraki"s absence

THE Senate yesterday said its Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, was not allowed to preside over the screening of ministerial nominees because he is of the opposition party.

Ekweremadu

Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume made this known in an interview with reporters at the National Assembly yesterday.

He, however, promised that former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi will be screened.

Ndume said contrary to insinuations, the Senate has seven weeks within which to conclude the screening and confirmation of the 36 ministerial nominees.

Asked why the Senate suspended plenary yesterday because of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s appearance before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Ndume said: “We were thinking that the lower court (CCT) would cancel the sitting but it did not.

“The Senate President had to be at the tribunal by 10.00am. He is the presiding officer. This is an extraordinary time because we are screening ministers that are predominantly of the All Progressives Congress (APC). So, that was why we said this screening should continue with the Senate President presiding.

“This is not a normal day because we are screening APC nominees of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“There are issues surrounding it. We don’t want any other issue out of it again. The presiding officer is the Senate President, who started the screening and we said we would take a day off and continue tomorrow (today).

“If you look at the constitution, it is not a ‘must’. It is just like when the president is off, the vice president does not automatically become the President of Nigeria. He remains the vice president until a letter is transmitted as such. That is what the constitution says.

“We have an issue at hand that the Senate President is handling and that is the screening of ministers.

“We said let us shift it by one day to enable the Senate President to attend the court session. Then, we will continue tomorrow (today).”

The 1999 Constitution (as amended) however states that in the absence of the President of the Senate, the Deputy President of the Senate shall preside.

Ndume urged Nigerians to be patient with senators to do a thorough job.

He said: “If the President takes his discretion to take his time to submit the (ministerial) list, which Nigerians patiently waited for, why are Nigerians not patient with the Senate?

“Why don’t you take us up on issues other than these trivialities? Supposing we said let’s take it off till next week, we have the right to do that.

“But the constitution is guiding us that we have to do this within 21 working days. We are still within the 21 working days.

“It is not 21 days; it is 21 working days. Our working days in the Senate plenary are three days in a week.

“So, if you are talking about 21 working days, it means that the Senate will do this within seven weeks because we sit for plenary Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. That is three working days. It means that logically, we can do this up to seven weeks.”

On Amaechi’s screening, Ndume said: “I don’t know; it is the Ethics and Privileges (Committee). But let me add that the Ethics and Privileges report is not the determinant in Amaechi’s matter. It is the Senate.

“Even if they write their report, it has to be laid before the Senate, which will decide on the report. It is not the report that will decide Amaechi’s fate.

“Whatever the committee recommends to the Senate, it is the Senate that will decide.

“I have told Nigerians several times that this Senate belongs to the APC. We have PDP senators that are in the minority. We are practising democracy in a changed environment.

“That is to allow the minorities to have their say. But you know that the majority will always have its way. We have 58 senators, the Senate President excluded, and they have 48 senators. And Amaechi is an APC candidate and the constitution is very clear.

“Until there is conviction, you are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a competent court of law. Unfortunately, you cannot confirm or disqualify Amaechi. We are the only ones that can do that. And PDP cannot disqualify Amaechi based on triviality. It must be based on constitutionality.”

Also yesterday, Imo State ministerial nominee, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, told the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions investigating the petition against his nomination that he (Anwukah) was nominated on merit.

The committee wanted to know whether Anwukah’s nomination was based on the fact that he is an in-law to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The nominee, who is a former Vice Chancellor of Imo State University and former Secretary to the State Government, declared that he believed the President nominated him based on his contributions to the development of the state.

Anwukah has 10 petitions against him.

The committee will submit a report on the investigation to the Senate today.

Why Ekweremadu didn"t preside over senate ministerial screening in Saraki"s absence

Saraki, 80 senators arrive Code of Conduct Tribunal

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and some of the Senators accompanied the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to the Code of Conduct Tribunal

Saraki is facing a 13-count criminal charge bordering on false declaration of assets preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Details soon

Saraki, 80 senators arrive Code of Conduct Tribunal

PDP strategise to take over senate; position Mar, Ekweremadu, Akpabio

As speculations mount over the future of embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki, plots by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to supplant the majority All Progressives Congress (APC) and take over leadership of the senate are intensifying.

The Nation had reported a few days ago the PDP was plotting a sensational take-over of the upper chamber of the National Assembly in the event that Saraki is consumed by his ongoing trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio

The party is mobilising its members in the Senate to ensure one of its own replaces Saraki if the presidency of the senate becomes vacant. With that as a goal, it is said to be seriously considering one of the trio of former Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, as possible candidates for the position. The Nationalso learnt that the three senators are being supported by various groups within the party and the senate.

The opposition party’s calculation is that some APC senators, especially those in the pro-Saraki’s Likeminds group, may either defect to the PDP or work with the party to once again produce the president of the senate if Saraki is convicted by the CCT.

“The party hopes to win to its side some APC senators to vote for our candidate along with the PDP senators. This is based on our belief that many senators across party lines are unhappy with the ongoing trial of the Senate President and we all know where this is coming from,” a PDP senator told The Nation.

Reliable sources said a meeting of PDP senators and members of Saraki’s Likeminds has been schedule for tomorrow in Abuja to discuss recent developments within the upper chamber and decide how the pro-Saraki lawmakers will react.

“While I know we will be discussing how to stall any plan to remove Saraki from office, I am also aware that we will be talking about how to ensure that APC doesn’t take over the leadership of the senate even if Saraki has to go. Already we are positioning our men in readiness for another political battle on the floor of the senate. If Saraki is forced out, we will replace him with one of our own,” another source said.

The Nation learnt that those pushing the candidacy of Ekweremadu are of the opinion that being the current Deputy Senate President, it is only normal that he be supported by PDP senators and Saraki’s loyalists to emerge as the Senate President should the latter lose the battle to remain in office.

“Ekweremadu is the current Deputy Senate President. He has shown loyalty to his boss and he is a loyal party man too. Many of us are of the opinion that it is natural that he be supported by PDP senators and Saraki’s loyalists to emerge as the Senate President should the latter lose his position as a result of his ongoing trial.

“We have made this clear to the caucus and the party leadership and he is seriously being considered by all stakeholders as a good candidate for the job. Ekweremadu’s experience as a Deputy Senate President of many years is also a great advantage. He is well suited for the job and he is well loved by many of his colleagues,” our source said.

Another factor working in favour of Ekweremadu, The Nation learnt is the quest by the South East geo-political zone to be represented among the top political office holders in the land. “The fact that he is from the South East is another factor working for him. Many senators will reason with the need to give the zone some sense of representation in the current arrangement,” our source added.

For Akpabio, the possibility of replacing Saraki as the next Senate President is being pushed largely by those opposed to Ekweremadu’s emergence. He is also said to be enjoying the backing of former governors now in PDP and Likeminds senators.

“Akpabio is the choice of those opposed to Ekweremadu for one reason or the other. He is also the candidate of his fellow ex-governors who are in Saraki’s camp or in PDP senate caucus. Their desire to ensure Ekweremadu is stopped from becoming Senate President may split the camp of pro-Saraki lawmakers,” our source added.

Meanwhile, a third group is said to be rooting for the return of David Mark as the Senate President to forestall further friction between the pro-Ekweremadu and pro-Akpabio camps. According to reports, the former Senate President’s status as the unofficial leader of the party in the National Assembly largely informed the decision to draft him into the race.

“Senator Mark is the real leader of the PDP caucus in the National Assembly. So, many of us feel he is the best man to be returned to the position after Saraki. His choice will also end the dangerous rivalry between the other groups and ensure that we do not lose the contest should the need arise,” our source added.

PDP strategise to take over senate; position Mar, Ekweremadu, Akpabio

Post-Election Review: Ekweremadu Committee to submit report on Sept 30

The Post-Election Review Committee set up by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), headed by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, will submit its report to the party on September 30.

Ekweremadu

This was announced yesterday in a statement by Ekweremadu’s Media Adviser Mr. Uche Anichukwu.

The statement quoted Ekweremadu to have given the assurance while interacting with journalists in Abuja on Thursday at the end of a retreat by the committee to harmonise and adopt its report ahead of its submission.

Senator Ekweremadu was further quoted to have told reporters that his committee did its best in diagnosing and addressing the challenges facing the PDP, even as he declined comment on the contents of the report.

“I do not have the mandate of the committee to speak on the details of our work yet. That will be done at the appropriate time. But for now, I want to assure members of our party that we have done our best in accordance with our terms of reference and that our report is ready for submission”, the senator was quoted to have said.

The committee earlier gave a September 23 date for the submission of the report, but said the date coincided with the Eid el Kabir holidays.

He expressed happiness at the enthusiasm and interest shown in the work of the committee by party faithful within and outside the country.

The Post-Election Review Committee was inaugurated on May 5, 2015, by the    PDP with a nine-point agenda to identify the immediate and remote causes of the party’s poor performance in the last general election and to propose a roadmap to restore the party’s fortunes.

The present crop of the party’s National Working Committee has been apprehensive about the committee’s pending report, owing to fears that the committee could recommend a total overhauling of the NWC.

This might have informed the reluctance of the NWC members to call a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), which has the powers to call for dissolution of the NWC.

Post-Election Review: Ekweremadu Committee to submit report on Sept 30

Saraki, Ekweremadu shun hearing of suit seeking their sack

…Judge frowns at Senate leaders’ conduct

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and three others Monday in Abuja shunned the resumed hearing of a suit seeking their sack.

Although it was not mandatory for Saraki, Ekweremadu and the other defendants in the suit to attend proceedings in person, they were required be represented by their lawyers.

Justice Ademola, who was uncomfortable that none of the defendants was represented in court, noted that the choice of Monday as the hearing date was with the consent of lawyers to the parties to the suit.

Bukola Saraki

The judge, following the decision by plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mamman Osuman (SAN) to withdraw his motion for interlocutory injunction, struck out the motion.

Justice Ademola agreed with Osuman that the motion, which sought to restrain the Senate leadership from constituting adhoc committees, has been overtaken by events, and that the prayers contained in the motion were similar to those contained in the plaintiffs’ ex-parte application which Justice Kolawole earlier refused to grant.

The judge, whose time as the vacation judge will end soon, said he will return the case file to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment at the end of the court’s vacation.

Other defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/651/2015, are the National Assembly, the Clerks of the National Assembly and the Clerk of the Senate.

Senators Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi  Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi are the plaintiffs.

It is their contention that the election of Saraki and Ekweremadu as President and Deputy President was invalid on the ground that the Senate Standing Orders 2015 used for the election was a forged document.

The plaintiffs argued that since the Senate Standing Order 2011, which was the valid Senate Rules as at the proclamation of the 8th Senate on June 9, was not known to have been validly altered before the election, the 2015 Rules could not be said to be a legitimate document.

They stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the Senate Standing ‎Orders 2015 was “contrived” from the amendment of the 2011 version of the Orders without following its (the 2011 edition’s) relevant provisions and those of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The plaintiffs argued that the said amendment was in breach of the “prescriptive procedures” stipulated by the extant provisions of section 60 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Rule 110(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 (as amended).

They therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs:

*A declaration that the Senate Standing Order 2011(as amended) is the proper, valid, constitutional and subsisting Rules/Standing Orders of the 8th Senate.

*A  declaration that the Senate Standing Order 2015(as amended), not being a product of any legitimate amendment pursuant to the extant provisions of Rule 110 of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 (as amended), is invalid, illegal, unconstitutional.

*A declaration that the election of the 1st and 2nd defendants as the President and Deputy  President of the Senate of the 8th Senate pursuant to the Senate Standing Orders 2015 and contrary to the provisions of Rules 3(3)(e) and (k), Chapter II of the Senate Standing Orders 2011, is illegal and unconstitutional

*An order setting aside the purported election of the 1st and 2nd defendants as Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate; an order setting aside the Senate Standing Orders 2015 and an order directing the 8th Senate to elect its presiding officers in accordance with the provisions of Section 54 of the Constitution and Rules 3(3) (e) and (k) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011.

Saraki, Ekweremadu shun hearing of suit seeking their sack

Court rejects Saraki"s complaint against suit to sack him, Ekweremadu

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday rejected a complaint by Senate President Bukola Saraki against a suit seeking to sack him and other principal officers of the Senate elected under the controversial Senate Standing Orders 2015.

Bukola Saraki

His counsel Sikiru Oke told the court yesterday that he appeared for the Senate President “in protest” and has not filed “memorandum of appearance” which must be filed before a lawyer could enter appearance for a party in a case.

The proceedings were in relation to a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/651/2015 filed by senators who are opposed to the emergence of Dr. Saraki as the Senate President.

They are: Senators Abu Ibrahim; Kabir Marafa; Ajayi  Boroffice; Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuni. Defendants to the suit are Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; the National Assembly, the Clerks of the National Assembly and the Senate.

The plaintiffs seek among other prayers  an order nullifying the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as well as the election of Saraki as the Senate President and that of Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President, for being products of the alleged illegal rules.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole had at the last hearing in the case on July 28, adjourned the case to yesterday for the hearing of the plaintiffs’ motion on notice seeking an order restraining Saraki and other defendants from going ahead to constitute the standing committees of the Senate, pending the determination of their suit challenging the validity of the Senate Standing Orders 2015.

Oke contended that court processes in the case were served on his office instead of being served personally on his client, as prescribed by the Federal High Court Rules 2009.

Plaintiffs’ counsel Dele Adesina (SAN) in a counter argument, contended that there are obligatory provisions of the same court rules which envisages and validates service on Saraki through his office.

Adesina also argued that Oke could not be heard since he had yet to file memorandum of appearance to appear for the first defendant (Saraki).

Ruling, Justice Kolawole upheld Adesina’s position and disqualified Oke from appearing for Saraki during the proceedings.

He directed that the case be transferred to another judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who will take over as the vacation judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja onAugust 10.

He adjourned to August 13.

Justice Kolawole had, in a ruling on July 28, dismissed an exparte application by the plaintiffs in which they had earlier sought a restraining order against the constitution of the senate standing committees.

In the ruling, Justice Kolawole said the disputes arising from the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders constituted internal legislative affair of the Senate which the court would not want to intervene in.

Court rejects Saraki"s complaint against suit to sack him, Ekweremadu

Alleged forgery of Senate standing orders: Court threatens to nullify police report

A Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday said it will nullify the report of investigation of the police on the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders 2015, if found out that actions have been taken on the report, during the pendency of the suit, challenging the investigation of the case.

Ekweremadu

The suit was filed on July 23 by Enugu-East Senator in the National Assembly, Gilbert Nnaji but the police was said to have completed their investigation and forwarded its report to the office of Attorney-General of the Federation for legal advice and further action.

The trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole on Tuesday said the police would be made to account for actions, which they had taken on the investigation, since the suit was filed.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase has challenged the powers of the Court to stop the police from carrying out investigation into the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) even as he said the police have not taken sides on the issue.

The police boss said investigating the allegation of forgery in the Senate can only strengthen the integrity of the upper legislative house and its leadership.

Confirming that the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) was forged, the police boss stated in its counter affidavit that, “the present Senate has not enacted any standing orders yet. As at the time of inauguration of this present Senate, no standing orders had been made. Till date, no such standing orders have so far been made.

“The practice is that at inauguration, the incoming Senate uses the standing orders of the preceding Senate. The immediate past Senate did not amend the 2011 standing orders and the 2011 standing orders have not yet been amended,” the Police boss added.

The document, which was deposed to by Joshua Yohanna, of the Legal/Prosecution department, Force CIID, further averred that, “I know that the plaintiff cannot prove that the so-called 2015 standing orders were passed by the preceding Senate.

“That the so-called 2015 standing orders were never made nor passed by the immediate past Senate. The plaintiff knows that the present Senate President was not in a position to have passed the 2015 Senate Standing orders before his inauguration.

“The plaintiff knows that it is only after inauguration that the current Senate could pass the senate standing orders. That what he is branding about is not an authorized Senate standing order.”

Accordingly, the police urged the court to throw out the suit filed against him by Senator Gilbert Nnaji, representing Enugu East on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to stop the police from investigating the issue, as it is merely a nuisance value.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the “Unity Forum” who signed the petition to the police, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi has applied to be joined in the suit filed by Nnaji as an interested party.

His  motion dated August 3, 2015 was filed by his counsel, Mamman Osuman pursuant to orders 9 rule 15 (1); order 26 rule 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) rules 2009.

The Inspector General of Police in his memorandum of conditional appearance filed by Elder David Abuo attacked the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit as well as the locus standi of the plaintiff to file the action.

Relying in the case of Hassan V EFCC (2014) 1 NWLR (pt. 1389), the lawyer submitted that, “No court has the power to stop the investigation powers of the Police or EFCC or any agency established, under our laws to investigate crimes whether there is reasonable suspicion of commission of crime or ample evidence of commission of an offence by a suspect.”

Besides, the police argued that the matter at hand raises issues of criminality and the police owe Nigerians the duty to unearth the truth behind the allegations of forgery.

Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Peter Nwakolo told to even when the opposition called on the former President to cancel Operation Burst, we informed Abuja that if they do so, they will disrupt the peace and security enjoyed in the state. I commend your performance and professionalism,” Ajimobi said.

Aregbesola urged Major General Ilo to remain professional and uphold the dignity and integrity of the profession so as to command their deserved respect.

Major General Ilo’s operation is to cover Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Edo, Ekiti and Kwara states.

Alleged forgery of Senate standing orders: Court threatens to nullify police report

I was the one who collected senators signature to impeach Ekweremadu - Ndume

The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, on Thursday, caused a stir in the upper chamber when he revealed how he collected signatures of other senators to impeach the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in the 7th Senate.

Ekweremadu

Ndume stated this while raising a point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to an “offensive report” published in The Nation newspaper of Thursday.

The newspaper’s report had alleged that 22 Northern senators who signed the vote of confidence passed in Senator Bukola Saraki leadership of the Senate, were working against the interest of President Muhammadu Buhari, in the red chamber.

Ndume said he contested the deputy senate president position with Ekweremadu on June 9, 2015 with the intention to win but had to accept his fate when the latter defeated him.

He said, “I personally still want to be senate president. I also believe that any of us will not mind to be the senate president. As for the deputy senate president, I contested against the deputy senate president. I did not contest with him to lose that election.

“I contested with him in order to win that election but it is God that gives power to whoever he wants. What ever happened on the 9th of June, my friend Ekweremadu became the deputy senate president.

“Let me say for the record and for those that were not in the 7th Senate, it is not something of pride, but I stand here to say, he is here, that I am the only person that attempted to impeach him.

“ I collected signatures in order to impeach him because of certain things which I explained and we discussed.

“Why I am taking us through all these is because the nation is watching us and this drama that is going on cannot continue because that is not why we are here and this leadership thing whether we like it or not, whether we change it or we maintain this one, only one person will be the senate president.

“I want to say something about an issue that has been lingering in this Senate and it is about to distort or take us away from the main reason why we are here.

“I said it before and I am still maintaining this position. Each and every one of us here that is elected as a senator is qualified to be the senate president by all standards but it only that out of the 109 of us, one has to be the senate president while another person has to be the deputy senate president. It so happened, that Senator Bukola Saraki is now our senate president.

“Senate leadership has gone beyond an individual. You cannot become the leader of the Senate when the senators are not ready to accept your leadership. If two-thirds of the senators say today that I am not the leader I am out.”

I was the one who collected senators signature to impeach Ekweremadu - Ndume

Standing order used to inaugurate Ekweremadu, Saraki forged - Police

The Nigeria Police have concluded their probe into the forgery of the Senate Standing Order and given a copy of the report to President Muhammadu Buhari,SUNDAY PUNCH can authoritatively report.

Ekweremadu

The President received a copy of the report last week, a highly reliable source in the presidency told one of our correspondents on Saturday.

The Police report confirmed that the Standing Rules used to inaugurate the 8th Assembly were forged, our source said.

In the report, the Police recommended the prosecution of those found culpable of forging the orders, which had been used in the controversial election of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on June 9, 2015.

The report was said to have indicted the management of the National Assembly, especially the Clerk, Salisu Maikasuwa and recommended the prosecution of the suspects.

Acting on a petition by Senator Sulaiman Hunkuyi (All Progressives Congress, Kaduna State), the Police had on July 6 quizzed Ekweremadu and Maikasuwa over an alleged forgery of the standing orders.

The petition alleged that some parts of the 2015 Senate Orders were different from the one ratified by the 6th Senate in 2010, which was used by the 7th Senate, as Standing Orders 2011.

The Police, on the strength of the petition, had subsequently quizzed the leadership of the 7th Senate, including former Senate President, Senator David Mark; his deputy (now Saraki’s deputy), Ike Ekweremadu; former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; and the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Maikasuwa, who is the custodian of the Senate Standing Order was also invited for questioning by the police.

Bukola Saraki

According to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, handed over copy of the investigative report to Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Sunday.

The source said, “I can confirm to you that the President has a copy of the Police’s investigation report on the Senate forgery and I can also authoritatively tell you that the report confirmed that the Senate rules were forged. Notable among those recommended for prosecution in the National Assembly is the Clerk because he is the one that keeps the Standing Orders.”

When asked if the Directorate of Public Prosecution had received a copy of the Police report, the source said he couldn’t confirm that.

SUNDAY PUNCH’s study of the controversial 2015 Senate Standing Orders, Rule 3, as contained on page four of the document, which has to do with the election of presiding officers, had shown that it is different from the 2011 Senate Order.

Rules 3(e) (i) and (ii) have been included in the 2015 document to accommodate electronic voting and secret ballot, whereas secret ballot and ballot papers were not specifically mentioned in the 2011 Standing Orders.

The Senate Order 3 (e) (ii) of 2011 states, “Voting shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-the Table, using the Division List of the Senate with the Tellers in attendance. The Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the division to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

“(iii) The Clerk shall then declare the Senator-elect who has received the greater number of votes, elected as President of the Senate.”

The same section in the 2015 Senate Order however reads, “Voting by secret ballot which shall be conducted by the Clerk-at-Table using the list of the Senators-elect of the Senate, who shall each be given a ballot paper to cast his vote with the proposers and seconder as Teller. The Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the voting to the Clerk of the National Assembly who shall then declare Senator-elect who has received the highest number of votes as Senate President-elect.”

Apart from the ‘alteration’ to the procedure for election, Order 95 of the 2011 rule on the chairmanship and membership of the committees is also different in the 2015 version.

In the 2011 document, provisions in Order 95 read, “The membership of all committees shall not be less than 11 and not more than 13 senators. (2) No senator shall serve in more than three committees (3) No committee chairman shall serve in more than one other committee.”

However, a new insertion in the amended version reads, “The appointment of Senators as Chairmen and members of committees shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the six geopolitical zones of the country and there shall be no predominance of senators from a few geo-political zones.”

In SUNDAY PUNCH’s exclusive report on the scandal, which was published on July 19, some senators who served in the 7th Senate had disowned the 2015 edition of the Senate Standing Orders (as amended).

Similarly, members of the current 8th Senate across parties had also denied being part of any amendment process.

The senators, who were from both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, said they were not aware of any amendments to the 2011 Senate Standing Orders.

For instance, Senator Victor Lar (PDP, Plateau-South) had declared, “As of the time we left the (7th) Senate, there were no alterations (to the Senate Standing Orders).”

Also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business in 7th Senate, Senator Ita Enang, stated that the Standing Orders that was used and closed within the 7th Senate was the Standing Orders that should have been used for the inauguration of the 8th Senate.

Enang, who was in the PDP when he was in the Senate but later defected to the APC, had stated, “I made proposal for amendments between 2011 and 2015, I laid the report on the floor, but we did not consider the report. We did not amend the Standing Orders.

“Before we left, I had approved the reprinting of the Standing Orders and the reprinting did not include inserting anything which was not in the old one. Reprinting is, simply reproduce what we have because there are no more copies.”

Some senior legal practitioners had told SUNDAY PUNCH that forging a document like the Standing Rule of the Senate was a felony, which, according to them, is a criminal offence against the state that attracts a penalty of three years jail term, a fine or both.

However, when contacted on Saturday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, did not confirm if the President had received a copy of the report.

“The Police are still working on the report. Investigation is still going on,” he said.

Director (Information), Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Charles Nwodo, responding to an inquiry by one of our correspondents on Saturday night also said he was not aware of the if the DPP had received a copy of the report.

Standing order used to inaugurate Ekweremadu, Saraki forged - Police

Forgery Of Standing Rules: Fear as NASS await reports on Ekweremadu

Revealed: The ‘forged’ 8th Senate voting rule

Tension is building up at the National Assembly as the Nigeria Police Force gets set to make public the report of its findings on the alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules on the election of principal officers.

Ekweremadu

In the eye of the storm is the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is being accused by his colleagues of using his position to alter the rules to favorite him during the controversial election whose result has polarized the Senate and caused acrimony of unimaginable dimension.

Although the politician is yet to be invited by the police in connection with the allegation, his supporters have already raised the alarm that he was being witch-hunted and threatened to cause trouble if any harm comes his way.

Vanguard’s investigation however showed that the uproar being orchestrated by both Ekweremadu’s Peoples Democratic Party and his office, were aimed at pre-empting the anticipated criminal charges likely to be pressed against him by the security agencies over the alleged doctoring of the Senate’s rules.

Sources close to both Ekweremadu and that of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, confirmed that the DSP was never invited over any allegation regarding the altering of the Senate’s rules.

A  top police officer   confirmed that on Tuesday that the office of the IGP was shocked over the furore being orchestrated by politicians in the media regarding the purported move by the police to arrest and incriminate the DSP.

The officer, who works closely with the IGP, but pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, made it clear that at no time did the police write any letter or intend to write to summon Ekweremadu over the issue at stake.

When our correspondent raised the issue of inviting the DSP by the IGP, the officer was upset, saying that no such invitation had emanated from the NPF.

“I think the media is actually being used to cause avoidable heat in the polity because the police did not and has not invited any politician for interrogation.

A close ally of the Deputy Senate President confessed that though no invitation had been extended by the police to the politician, they needed to raise the alarm to prevent any threat to the Senator, who retained his position by default in a controversial election last month, to the chagrin of the ruling APC.

The Senate source said: “It is true that the alarm raised by us and the PDP has helped to calm things down.  We needed to make the noise to prevent the DSP from being arrested, investigated and harassed by the security agencies to please his opponents.

“As things are now, we are monitoring to ensure that the DSP is not implicated in any way over the last Senate election,” the source close to Ekweremadu, said.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the police only wrote to the Clerk of the NASS asking for a convenient time and place to discuss issues relating to the alleged forging of the standing rules of the 8th Senate, a request which it claimed, was yet to be responded to by the CNA.

But Vanguard discovered that at the centre of the forgery is a slight difference between the voting procedures used in the election of the principal officers of the Senate in 2011 and 2015.

Vanguard’s finding shows that while the 2011 Standing Rules stipulated that the election of Senators should be done by dividing the members and taking the votes, that of 2015 says that the election should be done either through electronic voting or via secret ballot.

The 2011 standing rule which was used for the 7th Senate says: “When only two Senators –elect are nominated and seconded as President of Senate, the election shall be conducted as follows: The Senate shall divide with the proposers and seconders as tellers.

(ii) Voting shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-the-Table using the Division List of the Senate with the tellers in attendance. The Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the division to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Strangely, the mode of voting was however changed in respect of voting in 2015 causing ripples in the upper legislative chambers.

Section 3(3) (e) of the 2015 Senate Standing rule states: “When two or more Senators-elect are nominated and seconded as Senate President, the election shall be conducted as follows: by electronic voting; or voting by secret ballot which shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-Table using the list of the Senators-elect of the Senate, who shall each be given a ballot paper to cast his vote, with the proposers and seconder as teller.

“The Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the voting to the Clerk of the National Assembly who shall then declare the Senator-elect who has received the highest number of votes ‘as Senate President-elect.

The question begging for answers now is: who changed the rules for 2015 election and who authorised it when the Senators had vacated office before the election on June 9, 2015?

 

Forgery Of Standing Rules: Fear as NASS await reports on Ekweremadu

Tinubu Behind Plan To Remove Ekweremadu - Ndigbo

The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ohanaeze Youth Council, has said that the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is behind the plot to remove Ike Ekweremadu as the deputy senate president.

In a statement issued in Umuahia, the OYC National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, asked Tinubu and other “anti- Igbo forces in APC” to retrace their steps or face the wrath of Igbo youths.

Isiguzoro said the plot to remove Ekweremadu was an affront on the Igbo nation which would not be tolerated.

He said, “Being fully aware that the present plot is being orchestrated by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we ask him to re-trace his steps forthwith or we shall declare him an enemy of Ndigbo.”

Isiguzoro, however, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to caution Tinubu and other anti-Ekweremadu forces in order to avoid actions that might further overheat the polity.

He said, “We are aware that Buhari is under intense pressure to endorse the ‘Ekweremadu must go plot.’ This is the time for the President to prove that he belongs to nobody, Tinubu inclusive, but that he belongs to everybody, Ndigbo inclusive.”

Also, another Igbo group, Izu-Umunna Cultural Association, asked the APC to accept the election of Ekweremadu as the deputy senate president as the will of God.

The association also asked the Federal Government to relocate the Boko Haram detainees from Ekwulobia prison facilities in the South-East because their presence had been creating tension in the region.

According to him, the presence of the Boko Haram detainees is like spreading the virus of terrorism to a region not known to such a trend.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Ugo Ihekuna, and Secretary-General, Chief Elvis Chukwu, the association attributed the crisis in the senate to the handiwork of politicians who wanted things to always go their own way.

Tinubu Behind Plan To Remove Ekweremadu - Ndigbo

I Did Not Say Boko Haram Worsen Under Buhari"s Administration - Ekweremadu

By Kelly Amos, Naija Center News

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has denied a statement credited to him that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has worsened Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

The Senator warned that insurgency should not be politicized or trivialized on the alter of political interest as it has wasted the lives and properties of innocent Nigerians.

 

His Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu disclosed this in a statement titled “The Challenge of Insurgency is beyond Partisanship”

The statement reads: ““The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has been drawn to the attempt to misrepresent and sensationalise an innocuous call by Senator Ike Ekweremadu to Nigerians to pray for and rally round the Federal Government to win the war against insurgency.

“Specifically, the Deputy President of the Senate was reported by two national dailies as stating that the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration has worsened insurgency.

“Whereas Senator Ekweremadu expressed concerns over the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in parts of the country, at no time did he try to blame it on the present administration. It is instead on record that he not only commended the efforts of the present administration, especially in building international support and synergy to tackle the monstrous group, but he also called for greater inter-party, intergovernmental, and international collaboration to address the problem.

“It is instructive that his patriotic comments were well captured by many electronic and print media. They include:  “Boko Haram: Ekweremadu Seeks Support for Buhari” (Leadership, Friday, July 10, 2015) and “Boko Haram: US Pledges Deepened Support for Nigeria… Ekweremadu rallies Support for Buhari” (New Telegraph, Friday, July 10, 2015).

“The fact that out of the 75-man Senate Press Corps, representing various media houses, which were present at the function, only one medium sensationally skewed its statement out of context, while a second medium copied the same story without a byline (name of reporter), tells the whole story of a devious intent.

 

I Did Not Say Boko Haram Worsen Under Buhari"s Administration - Ekweremadu

Ekweremadu under attack over comment on Boko Haram, Buhari

The Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola,  said on Friday that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was wrong in his comparison of the activities of Boko Haram insurgency during the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and the bomb blasts recorded in some parts of the country recently.

Adeola, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, in Abuja, also said Ekweremadu should not play partisan politics with the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in recent times.

The deputy president of the Senate, had, on Thursday, expressed concern over the current spate of Boko Haram attacks in the country at a “time  that government should be talking of a redevelopment plan to rebuild the North-East since the last administration had almost rolled back the insurgency before handing over on May 29.”

But Adeola described Ekweremadu’s comparative narrative on the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks as reported in some newspapers on Friday, as a partisan mindset of one playing politics with  insurgency.

He said, “It is very worrisome that Senator Ekweremadu, who has been a presiding officer of the Senate under the PDP administration since the inception of Boko Haram about six years ago, will expect the insurgency that his party and PDP administration could not resolve to be eradicated by Buhari in six weeks.

“I believe his comparison of recent attacks under Buhari with that of outgone Peoples Democratic Party administration is informed by partisan considerations of exonerating the PDP from the mess left behind by 16 years of PDP rule.

“It is regrettable that Senator Ekweremadu could come to the conclusion that Boko Haram insurgency has worsen in the last few weeks in comparison to thousands of civilians and military lives lost, destruction of communities as well as the national agony and ordeal of the yet to be resolved missing Chibok girls under the PDP administration.”

Adeola noted that what should be paramount on the minds of all Nigerians now is how to put an end to the insurgency permanently which, according to him, was not going to be an overnight assignment.

He added that Buhari and the security agencies were already working out strategies to curtail the focus of Boko Haram attacks on “soft targets” in recent times.

The senator said the insurgents resorted into bombing when it was obvious  that the military had weakened them in the battle field where they hitherto had territorial control.

 

Ekweremadu under attack over comment on Boko Haram, Buhari

Ekweremadu: Boko Haram Worsens After Buhari"s Inauguration

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, avoided comments on his current ordeal concerning his alleged role in the amendments made to the Senate Rules during an interaction with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

Ekweremadu

Ekweremadu, who had yet to make public comments on his alleged involvement in the alterations imputed in the document which was used to conduct the election that led to his emergence as the DSP on June 9, however, expressed worry over the frightening spate of insurgency in the country.

He noted with dismay that the unfortunate development had attained a worrisome dimension since President Muhammadu Buhari took over power on May 29, 2015.

He said, “I am worried about the insurgence of the Boko Haram activities in Nigeria. Shortly before the inauguration of the present government, the country had almost rolled back Boko Haram and its activities in every part of Nigeria – from Adamawa to Borno to Yobe.

“I was hoping that when we come back in the 8th Assembly, that I will work with our colleagues from the North-East to develop a plan of action that will help to rehabilitate that part of Nigeria. I feel so concerned about the suffering of our people from the North-East of Nigeria.

“I had hoped that by now we would be tasking ourselves on how best to rebuild that part of Nigeria. Regrettably the actions of Boko Haram seems to have resurfaced now not only in Borno, they have carried out their activities also in Plateau, they have gone to Adamawa, Kaduna.

“I am worried that if nothing is done, the next target would be Abuja. Maybe they start going to South. It is important for us as those in government, whether Executive or Legislature, to come together to find solutions to these problems.”

He therefore appealed to neighbouring countries and the international community to support the country to roll back the activities of Boko Haram, stressing that there was no way the nation could achieve progress in the country when there were security problems.

He said the Buhari administration should, as a matter of urgency, “deal with this security challenge no matter what it would cost us.”

He also called for a collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature in order to deal with the scourge.

Ekweremadu said, “We must be on the same page on this matter. I believe that it is time for us to have meetings with the Executive as well as the security agencies in order to find out exactly what has happened – why the resurgence of these Boko Haram activities and what we can do as a people to ensure that this matter is dealt with decisively.”

He expressed sympathy with the Boko Haram victims and called for an immediate action to stop the menace.

Ekweremadu: Boko Haram Worsens After Buhari"s Inauguration

APC’s plot to remove Ekweremadu’ll fail - PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday asked the ruling All Progressives Congress to stop chasing shadows and concentrate on governance.

Ekweremadu

It also said the plot by the APC to remove the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, “is an enterprise in futility.”

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Abdulahi Jalo, said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja.

He advised the APC to stop chasing shadows and concentrate on providing the services they promised to provide for Nigerians during campaign.

He said the PDP should not be blamed for the decision of the ruling APC, to call for a meeting outside of the National Assembly Complex on the morning of the inauguration.

According to him, politics is a game of numbers, as such, even in the general elections, the electoral umpire cannot be blamed for the refusal or failure of voters to turn up to exercise their franchise on election day.

Jalo said, “Those seeking to harass, intimidate or trying to remove Senator (Ike) Ekweremadu from the position of Deputy Senate President, are engaging in what we call an enterprise in futility because he was validly elected by his colleagues as stipulated in their rules.

“On the allegation that the rules were illegally amended, the question Nigerians should ask is, is it possible for one man to change the rules one hour to the inauguration? Where was the amendment printed?

“The little I know about the Senate is this: when every senator is sworn in, he is given a copy of the Senate Rule Book and the constitution, who prepares the document or how it is prepared is not the business of the senators.”

He described the recent police invitation of the Deputy Senate President as the height of the ruling party’s desperation to force Ekweremadu out of office.

Jalo further explained that to the best of his knowledge, Ekweremadu, who is also a lawyer, would not take any action that runs contrary to the PDP’s respect for the rule of law.

He also said the APC “is now slowly coming to terms with the reality that governance goes beyond rhetoric.”

According to him, the PDP was going through a temporary setback and would bounce back stronger sooner than its detractors envisaged.

In response, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the party’s position as contained in an earlier press release on the issue had not changed.

He had in the statement issued on Sunday, July 5, 2015 said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly said that at every point, the law must be supreme and everyone must respect the law, if the nation’s democratic system is to survive.

“Extrapolating a police invitation of anyone, no matter his status, to mean the onset of dictatorship, is itself an invitation to lawlessness and anarchy, which permeated the long but ineffective rule of the PDP.”

APC’s plot to remove Ekweremadu’ll fail - PDP