The answer to that question appears to be in the affirmative as the PDP is said to be plotting a sensational take-over of the red chamber in the event that Senate President Bukola Saraki is swept away by his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Over the past few days, speculations have been rife of political meetings in the PDP fold over the likely scenarios that will play out should the Senate president’s seat become vacant.
One of such scenarios is the consideration of 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. Towards this end, various support groups within the PDP have sprang up to ensure their preferred candidate emerges the number three citizen.
Furthermore to this plot, the opposition party’s banking on the disaffection that may arise among the APC senators in the event that the Senate president is consumed by his ongoing trial and has started reaching out to those in the pro-Saraki’s like minds’ group.
The plan is to either get them to defect to the PDP or work with the party to once again produce the Senate president if Saraki is convicted by the CCT. The latter option seems more plausible.
“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”, a source said.
It was learnt that those pushing for an Ekweremadu candidacy are of the opinion that being the current Deputy Senate President, it follows a normal line of succession that he be supported by PDP senators and Saraki’s loyalists alike, 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”, the source said.
Another factor working in favour of Ekweremadu 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”, the source added.
For former governor Akpabio, the possibility of replacing Saraki as the next Senate President is being pushed largely by those opposed to Ekweremadu’s emergence.
The Senate minority leader is also said to be enjoying the backing of former governors now in PDP and like minds 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”, the source added.
Meanwhile, a third group, which is seen more as the neutral group, is backing the return of veteran Senator David Mark to the seat he occupied for two terms before the APC assumed majority control of the Senate.
The argument by this group is that a David Mark candidacy would forestall further friction between the pro-Ekweremadu and pro-Akpabio camps.
“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”, the source added.
The plan by PDP to produce the Senate president should Saraki be removed or forced to resign, was confirmed by a Senator elected on the platform of the party representing Delta North, Peter Nwaboshi.
According to Sen. Nwaboshi, while there is no plan to remove Saraki from office, if any such plan comes up and is successful, the PDP would produce the next Senate president.
“There is no such plan to remove Senate President Saraki, but I bet you that if there is anything of such, the PDP will produce the next Senate President; we will get it”, he vowed.
Source: The NATION/VAGUARD
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