‘Deputy Senate President will cause problems for Buhari,’ APC leader says

A leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the party still wants Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu removed from the post.

Ekweremadu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was elected on June 9, 2015, when Senate President, Bukola Saraki defied the APC to contest and win after garnering most of his votes from PDP Senators.

The APC leader, who spoke to Punch on condition of anonymity, said that Ekweremadu’s occupancy of the Deputy Senate President’s seat would cause problems for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“As deputy senate leader, Ekweremadu is automatically the Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment. This is a sensitive position that, statutorily, should not be held by the minority,” the APC chieftain said.

“Ekweremadu and his PDP co-travellers will hamper the policies of the Buhari government. By the virtue of Senate rules, a member of the minority is not supposed to be the deputy senate leader; so, he is occupying the post illegally,” he added.

“We know the body language of some of these elements to anti-corruption. Nigerians know the stance of Buhari on corruption and insecurity. These elements occupying positions in the National Assembly must be removed. Otherwise, this administration is dead on arrival,” the source said.

The APC leader also stated that Buhari had refused to see Saraki since his emergence as Senate President.