Saraki blames APC senators for emergence of Ekweremadu as deputy senate president

Bukola Saraki, Senate President, says his colleagues in the All Progressives Congress (APC) permitted the emergence of Ike Ekweremadu as deputy senate president despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Saraki on Monday denied going into an alliance with the opposition to become senate president.

His emergence as senate president was smeared in controversy owing to the circumstances surrounding the election.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila for the post but Saraki had the backing of the PDP lawmakers.

He was elected unanimously by 57 senators while the remaining 51, all from APC, were absent in the chambers during the election.

Reacting to a Twitter user’s accusation that his action truncated the change mandate of the APC, Saraki maintained that he did not strike any deal with the opposition party.

“I did not do any deal with @OfficialPDPNig. I did not have to because even before they took group decision, 22 or them already endorsed me,” he said.

Saraki said he never thought the APC lawmakers would absent themselves from the proceedings.

“I didn’t envisage some @APCNigeria members been absent from @NGRSenate especially when clerk already received a proclamation from President.

“If a team refused to turn up for a scheduled match & was consequently walked over, would it be fair to blame the team that turned up?

“Those that made it possible for PDP to claim DSP position were those who decided to hold a meeting when senators ought to be in the chambers.”

I did not do any deal with @OfficialPDPNig . I did not have to because even before they took group decision, 22 or them already endorsed me https://t.co/2bHjxAaDlQ

— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) May 1, 2017

I didn’t envisage some @APCNigeria members been absent from @NGRSenate especially when clerk already received a proclamation from President https://t.co/2bHjxAaDlQ — Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) May 1, 2017

If a team refused to turn up for a scheduled match & was consequently walked over, would it be fair to blame the team that turned up? https://t.co/2bHjxAaDlQ

— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) May 1, 2017

Those that made it possible for PDP to claim DSP position were those who decided to hold a meeting when senators ought to be in the chambers https://t.co/2bHjxAaDlQ

— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) May 1, 2017