Crisis Brews In Senate As Lawmakers Allege Attempts To Impose Opposition Leader

There could be a face-off between leaders of the 10th Senate and some members of the opposition, as eight opposition senators have warned against an alleged plot to foist principal officers on the minority caucus of the red chamber.

In a statement released on Saturday and signed by Mohammed Aliero, Seriake Dickson, Aminu Tambuwal, Abdul Ningi, Patrick Abba Moro, Onyebuchi Ezenwa, Sumaila Kawu and Ifeanyi Ubah, the senators said they were aware of the plot to foist “pliant and compromised leadership” on the minority caucus.

They declared that nobody has been selected or endorsed for the minority leadership in the red chamber.

“We have pledged to work constructively with the new senate leadership and the executive branch to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people,”

“We consequently hereby advise and caution that they should not aid any group inside or outside the senate to divide and destabilise the minority parties and the senate institution.

“Senators of the minority parties would meet when the senate reconvenes and in consultation with our respective political parties, would select its leaders without undue interference from anti-democratic forces within or outside the senate.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no senator has yet been endorsed or selected for any minority position as this would await due process as agreed by all minority parties in their last meeting.

“Attempts to foist a one-party dictatorship would be resisted and would fail. We call on all members of the minority political parties to work together in unity to defend the democratic institutions of the senate and Nigeria”, the statement reads

At the moment, the Senate is currently on break and proceedings will resume on July 4.