All Progressive Congress (APC) senators who met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night have said that they were at the presidential villa, Abuja to show solidarity with him following the gale of defections that has hit the ruling party.
Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, told State House correspondents after the meeting that it afforded them the opportunity to brief the president about the happening on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday when a number of senators elected under the APC defected to other political parties.
He said: “We have come to pay a courtesy call on our leader, the President of this country and then inform him about what happened yesterday (Tuesday) in the Senate and indeed the National Assembly; the defection by some of our colleagues from the APC to the Peples Democratic Party, the PDP and various political parties. We informed the President of how we stand in the Senate.
“As at today, the APC caucus in the Senate is 53 in number, followed by the largest minority party the PDP with 48 Senators and then the ADC with two senators, APGA has two senators. We have two vacant seats which were occupied by APC senators who are late now. By the grace of God, there will be election into those two seats on August 11 and hopefully, the APC will clinch both and our number of senators will swell to 55.”
ALSO READ: Saraki absent as Buhari meets with APC senators
Lawan said the APC senators are consulting widely, hopeful that some of the defected senators would come back to the APC.
He added: “Let me also say that even from Tuesday, less than 24 hours into the defection, we had discussions with some of our colleagues who defected and they have shown their willingness and interest to retrace their steps.
“So, we are working very hard round the clock, with our party’s national leadership led by the very hardworking Adams Oshiomhole, to ensure that we re-engage with our colleagues that defected and that we reach some understanding and resolutions that will enable them to come back home very soon.
“Even some PDP senators have indicated their readiness to come into the APC fold.”
Also speaking, Kaduna State Senator, Shehu Sani, affirmed that he remains in the APC, adding that he was pleased with the measures taken by the party’s leadership to address the challenges confronting the party.
He stated: “I’m here as a member of the APC caucus in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and my presence here does not mean that my issues have been solved 100 per cent.
“But I am of the belief that we have a leader in the party who is doing everything possible to see that the problems that we have that led to a situation of revolt against the system of iniquity and injustice are resolved.
“So, I am here because I believe in the leadership of the party and I believe also in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and I’m also of the believe that there is no issue that we cannot solve as human beings, as men of conscience and conviction.”
Forty two senators of the APC attended the meeting which was shunned by Senate President, Bukola Saraki and other prominent members of the APC including former governor Mohammed Goje, Prof Sola Adeyeye.
The meeting was witnessed by Oshiomhole, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari among others.
Plz how many of you are defeating?
M C D A V E F U N D S . C O M gives you the opportunity to receive a stable profit from their various portfolio. i think they have all it takes.The investment packages they provide offer the combination of high returns balanced with expert risk management which allows a safe and sustainable operation. they provide professional account management with top-notch support and customer service.
Apc to rubbish Nigeria more? Tell us why.