Senate President Bukola Saraki came under fire yesterday, 24 hours after he announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Partry (PDP).
The APC, which on Tuesday queried him for breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution, asked him to resign his positon because the PDP is the minority party in the Senate.
He cannot go away with another person’s crown, party Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said.
The Federal Government said Saraki would not be missed by the ruling party because, even as a party member, he behaved like an opposition within.
In Saraki’s Ilorin, Kwara State capital hometown, some key members of the PDP, led by state Chairman Iyiola Oyedepo, announced their defection to the APC.
Former Publicity Secretary Rex Olawoyeo described Saraki as an “anathema”, who they could not work with.
But 23 members of the Kwara State House of Assembly defected to the PDP in support of the Senate president.
The 24th member, Saheed Popoola (Ojomu-Balogun Constituency) in Offa Local Government Area, declined to join the train. He was promptly removed as Chairman, House Committee on Information, Youth and Sports.
Also yesterday, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim described the query issued to Saraki by the APC National Working Committee as belated, saying Saraki did not cause any of the problems they attributed to him.
Oshiomhole, who called on Saraki should step down, spoke at the Presidential Villa after President Mhammadu Buhari’s meeting with 12 APC senators, led by Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan.
