9th NASS: Wike, PDP Senators-elect hold marathon meeting, move to scuttle APC plans

Preparatory to the inauguration of the 9th Senate, all the Senators-elect under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are expected to attend a marathon meeting initiated by the leadership of opposition party.

According to an invitation sent to all the PDP lawmakers and seen by Tribune Online on Tuesday evening, two meetings are scheduled to hold concurrently at the River State’s Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro District, Abuja at 8 pm and 10 pm respectively.

The invitation read in part: “Dear PDP Senator-Elect, I have been directed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu CFR, to invite you to a meeting with Governor Wike today.”

After the meeting, the Senators-elect are also expected to hold “a final meeting of the forum by 10 pm at Ekweremadu’s Apo Legislative Quarters.

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Sources close to the opposition lawmakers who pleaded anonymity noted that the move was aimed at frustrating the endorsement plans of the ruling party.

Speaking earlier during an interactive session with Senate Press Corps, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha who described APC’s campaign strategies as mischievous, said: “There is dignity in silence, and there is mischief in noise-making.

“So, we maintain a dignified silence because we want a 9th Assembly that will be rancour-free.”

While responding to questions on some of the PDP lawmakers who had endorsed the endorsed APC Senators-elect for the office of the President of the Senate, Senator Bwacha said: “We speak as a family, friends, that is our tradition; we speak as a family, we are not divided.”