From Fred Itua, Abuja
Fresh facts have emerged on what transpired at the Tuesday evening meeting the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had with Senators elected on its platform.
Although APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, told newsmen that the meeting was robust and addressed salient issues affecting smooth working relationship between Senate and the Executive, Daily Sun, however, gathered that the deliberations did not go as smoothly as portrayed to the media.
A senator who attended the meeting said lawmakers accused the party leadership of double-standards, over the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as Senate Leader.
The lawmakers asked why the party leadership could not defend them after carried out its bidding by removing Ndume.
Daily Sun also gathered that lawmakers who took turns to express frustrations said they were instructed by the party’s NWC to effect a leadership change in the Senate.
They specifically said Odigie-Oyegun and others instructed them “to remove Ndume and replace him with senator Ahmad Lawan, in line with the party’s stance in June 2015” and wondered why they could not defend them after doing their bidding.
Senate suspended Ndume last week afteradoption of a report of the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions committee which probed complaints of the former leader against Saraki and Dino Melaye, on alleged certificate forgery.
At the meeting, senators reportedly loyal to Saraki demanded the withdrawal of a perjury suit against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. They described the trial as political.
On his part, Oyegun called for ceasefire between the legislature and executive and asked for mutual respect between the arms of government to ensure sustainable development.
“One appeal I have to make that it is necessary is for all levels of government to maintain some level of respect and civility.
“And, I appeal that as we start now the process of reconstructing relationships and consultations.
“There should be what I will call a ceasefire in terms of the kind of abuse that is used all round on one institution of government or the other even principal parties of these institutions,’’ he said.
Oyegun expressed optimism that though the meeting with the caucus was the first, such interactions would continue for the strengthening of the party and national development.
On Tuesday, thousands of protesters stormed the Senate to challenge Ndume’s suspension of Ndume.
For several hours, they barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly.