Minority Parties Sound Alarm Over Alleged Plot to Destabilize Senate Caucus Leadership

Minority Political Parties in Senate Sound Alarm over Alleged Plot to Destabilize Leadership.

A statement jointly signed in Abuja by eight Senators representing minority parties in the Senate raised concerns on Saturday regarding an alleged ongoing plot to destabilize the parties and impose compromised leadership upon them.

The minority caucus, representing various political parties, expressed their determination to resist such a scheme and ensure the selection of their leaders by themselves.

In their statement, the caucus reaffirmed their resolution to work constructively with the new Senate leadership and the Executive branch to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people. They urged that the caucus be granted the freedom to independently select its leadership without any interference.

The caucus expressed disapproval of an alleged ongoing scheme, both within and outside the Senate, aimed at influencing the emergence of the minority leadership. They declared their intention to convene a meeting when the Senate resumes in July to independently choose their leaders.

The statement emphasized: “Attempts to foist a one-party dictatorship would be resisted and would fail.” The caucus called upon all members of minority political parties to unite and defend the democratic institution of the Senate and Nigeria.

The signatories of the statement include Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa), Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto), Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi), Senator Patrick Abba Moro (PDP, Benue), Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi (LP, Imo), Senator Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano), and Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah (YPP, Anambra).

Earlier reports indicated a move to block the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) choices for the minority leadership positions in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. These reports followed a meeting between the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. The nature of the meeting raised concerns that minority leaders chosen by Wike’s faction within the PDP might be favored instead.

While the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives remained cautious, they acknowledged the possibility of factionalizing the PDP caucuses in both chambers, which could result in the appointment of unpopular minority leaders.