Ahead of coming Tuesday’s inauguration of incoming National Assembly and leadership elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed there’s scheming of plot to arrest members opposed to the anointed candidates of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress.
Senator Godswill Akpabio and Hon. Tajuddeen Abbass have the endorsement of Tinubu and the ruling APC for Senate Presidency and House of Representatives speakership respectively.
However, both candidatures are not universally accepted with opposition within and without the rank of APC.
Openly on the opposition side are the likes of Senators Abdulaziz Yari, Orji Uzor Kalu and Osita Izunaso, all of APC, with their hats in the ring for the coveted Senate Presidency.
The same goes with outgoing Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase, who is vying for Speakership in defiance of APC’s authority.
The opposition PDP at the weekend, said it got wind of alleged plan to disenfranchise mutinied lawmakers on the day of the election by arresting them.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, told newsmen this in Abuja at a press conference.
“Reports in the public space indicate plots to arrest individuals who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature and the right of members-elect to elect their leadership.
“The PDP notes that the independence of the legislature is a prerequisite for a virile democracy and therefore insists that the members-elect in both houses must be allowed to elect their leadership,” Ologunagba alleged.
