APC Leaders In Crucial Meeting In Abuja, To Deal With Saraki

After several hours of discussion between APC leaders and Governors of the party in Abuja, they failed to reach an accord and take a decision on the crisis rocking the party’s caucus in the Senate.

The governors, who met in Abuja, were divided over how the crisis should be handled. Some of them are of the opinion that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, should apologise to the party at a meeting to include its leadership and members of the opposing sides in the crisis.

But it was learnt that others differed on the grounds that governors should await the decision of the Ministry of Justice on the police report on the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders 2015, so they know how to deal with Saraki and others.

The police, in the report sent to the Ministry of Justice on Monday, established that the standing orders used for the inauguration of the eighth Senate were forged.

In its recommendations, the police reportedly stated, “This practice, where some group of senators amends the rules of the senate without following legal procedures, is not only criminal, but portends danger for our growing democracy and should be discouraged.”

The police asked the justice ministry to vet and determine whether it constitutes a criminal offence.

According to Punch, some governors, who seemed to favour Saraki, canvassed for a quick resolution of the crisis. The pro-Saraki governors, who included Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, reportedly warned that any delay in resolving the crisis would impact negatively on the party and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors suggested that a meeting of parties to the crisis should be convened in the next one week, where Saraki should apologise to the party leaders and the President.

It was learnt that there were others, including the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who said the forum should wait for the decision of the justice ministry on the forgery of the Senate Standing Orders.

The angry APC leaders and Governors pointed out that Saraki did not only insulted the party once, but he did it twice with arrogance, hence his actions cannot be swept under the carpet.