As they did in June 2015 with emergence of leadership of Senate not imposed by either the Presidency or highest authority of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), are already plotting for a similar scenario .
In June, 2015 at the inauguration of the 8th Senate , the 49 PDP senators-elect then, teamed up with a faction of the 59 APC Senators-elect for the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki then of the APC from Kwara Central as Senate President agsinst Ahmed Lawan ( APC Yobe East), endorsed for the position by the national leadership of APC then.
The PDP senators elect alliance with Saraki’s ‘like minds’ faction of the APC then, even produced a bi-partisan leadership in the Senate with the emergence of Ike Ekweremadu ( PDP Enugu West), as Deputy Senate President.
In re-enacting a similar scenario in the 9th Senate, 19 returnees among the PDP senators in the 8th Senate are already meeting with 22 fresh senators elect on the platform of the party for a block voting strategy for whoever they will support for the position of Senate president among the confirmed 64 senators elected on the platform of APC.
According to a reliable source, the latest of such meetings was the one held in Abuja on Saturday night at the Asokoro residence of one of the high ranking senators in the senate with a resolve to block the emergence of any of the APC senators having the backing of either the presidency or national leadership of the party for the chief presiding job of the 9th senate .
The meeting which lasted till early hours of yesterday the source added, mandated the 19 returnee PDP senators to infiltrate into the ranks of the 24 returnee APC senators with a view to knowing who and who among them, are being sponsored officially for one position or the other in the 9th Senate .
“Politics is both a game of numbers and interests, where numbers failed, interests need to be seriously guided .
“Going by results declared so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) from the National Assembly elections conducted on the 23rd of last month, Senators elected on the platform of APC are well above 60 while those on the platform of our party , are 41 now pending the determination of about three seats yet to be declared .
” Even if our number remains at 41 at inauguration in June, it is solid enough to spring a surprise in the emergence of leadership of the 9th Senate as long as the entire 41 votes in one direction for emergence of the two presiding officers .
” As it has always been the case since 1999 even when senators elected on the platform of PDP were in the majority , there is no way there will not be more than one senator elect indicating interest for any of the two leadership positions , which will definitely pave way for PDP senators elect to cast their votes enblock for a candidate they feel will carry them along and most importantly , protect the interest and independence of the Senate as an institution from possible meddlesomeness from the presidency or party officials.
“Bi- partisan leadership is not in the plan yet, but what is certain is that the over 40 PDP senators will use the number well in ensuring emergence of a President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate , who will have respect for the doctrine of separation of powers known with presidential system of government in any democracy .
“In a nutshell, PDP senators at inauguration of the 9th Senate , will not fold their arms and allow puppets of either the presidency or APC national leadership to be foisted on them.
” Luckily in such a game or election, there will always be senators even within the ruling party , who will kick against any form of imposition or emergence of puppets of forces outside the senate in leadership positions”, the source explained .
Those gunning for the position of Senate President among the 24 returnee APC senators from the North East are Ahmed Lawan ( Yobe North), Ali Ndume ( Borno South ) and Danjuma Goje ( Gombe Central ).
Name of Senator Abdullahi Adamu ( Nasarawa West ) is also featuring from the North Central while Benjamin Uwajumogu’s name ( Imo North) , echoes from the South East if eventually confirmed as winner of the supplementary election conducted on the 9th of this month .
However for now, neither the presidency nor the national leadership of APC , has endorsed any of them for the position of President of the 9th Senate .
