APC plotting to ‘topple’ NASS leadership – Opposition

Opposition parties, under the aegis of Coalition of United Political Parties, have alleged plot by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to endanger the country’s democracy.
They specifically alleged plans by the ruling party to ‘topple’ the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly under Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
CUPP, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, yesterday, stated that the “latest dastardly act by the anti-democratic forces of the APC, include the surreptitious filing of a suit and seeking out a compromised judge who will, in controversial circumstances, grant an exparte application, directing that one third of the Senators/House members can demand to open either Chambers of the National Assembly.” But the APC has dismissed the claim as a ruse, describing it as a mere ploy to frustrate the resumption of the National Assembly by both Saraki and Dogara.
Notwithstanding the denial, the opposition, according to the statement, insisted that “CUPP has been informed that the plot also includes the Police inviting the leadership of the National Assembly just before the controversial ruling and their subsequent detention with a black market injunction from a magistrate court, thereby paving way for the unlawful and violent change of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.
“Some of the security agencies will provide security cover for the coupists, while a section of the media has been coopted to churn out news and justification for such evil plots.
“This kind of desperation by the outgoing APC and Presidency can only be likened to the last kicks of a dying horse which usually gives it the hope that it will salvage the head which is already off.
“The ship of the APC is fast sinking and is obviously beyond redemption.
Nigerians are daily convinced that that the APC was a mistake made in 2015, and are also resolved that they are a mistake to be corrected in 2019.” It also described as worrisome that “the party trusted by Nigerians to provide leadership, growth and development for the country, could in one plot compromise the judiciary, the legislature, the Police, the Department of State Services, the media and indeed all institutions of our democracy.
“In the coming days, Nigerians and indeed all lovers of democracy world over, are hereby placed on alert to watch out for the unfolding of this plot, and call on the Presidency and the APC not to destroy our democracy before they leave office in eight months as Nigerians have rejected them and cannot wait to send them packing in the next general elections.
“We call on the international community to place key members of the APC-led federal government on watch list and ensure they have no hiding place anywhere in the world should anything happen to our democracy.” Ploy to frustrate resumption Debunking the claims, however, the APC said the Saraki-led NASS was planning to prevent members of the chambers to reconvene as planned.
The party, in a statement by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, yesterday in Abuja, said the opposition’s claims were aimed at frustrating the lawmakers’ resumption.
Nabena said, “such crude practices are rejected templates of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which the so-called “Coalition” represents and definitely alien to the progressive APCled administration.
“Again, we consider these new rounds of falsehood by the sponsored “Coalition” as a last-ditch attempt by the outgoing and minority National Assembly leadership of the Senate President, Dr.
Bukola Saraki; his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to prevent the reconvening of the National Assembly and continue a minority rule in an APC-dominated federal legislature.
“We are in a democracy and are governed by laws.
A few cannot hold the legislative arm of government to ransom through their selfish political games.
The National Assembly must be reconvened immediately to attend to crucial and pending legislative business.
The majority must be allowed to lead.”