PDP plots Goje-Ekweremadu ticket – TheNigerialawyer

The horse-trading for the leadership of the 9th Senate
intensified yesterday with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) spearheading negotiation with some aspirants from the All
Progressives Congress (APC) for the office of the President of the
Senate, The Nation reports

The PDP is plotting a joint ticket by the Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Danjuma Goje and the outgoing
Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.

But some leaders of PDP are suggesting either Sen. Ali
Ndume-Ekweremadu mandate or Sen. Abdullahi Adamu-Ekweremadu
ticket.

But most PDP senators-elect, especially loyalists of the
outgoing Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, have been
uncomfortable with any joint ticket with Ndume or Adamu.

Saraki and influential PDP leaders prefer a deal with Goje, who
was once a father-figure in the opposition party before he defected
to APC.

The outcome of the proposed alliance will pit the joint
candidate for the Senate against the Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmad
Lawan, who has been adopted by President Muhammadu Buhari and the
APC.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the PDP opted
for another alliance to hijack the Senate leadership in order to
have a high stake in the 9th National Assembly and secure a
comfortable slot for the South-East which might be left out of
power sharing at the centre by the APC.

The PDP was said to be interested in a succession plan which
will “sustain the current checks and balances against the Buhari
administration” as symbol ised by Saraki and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

According to findings made by our correspondent, Ekweremadu has
been holding marathon meetings with some APC senators-elect,
especially those rated as “rebellious and amenable”, in order to
get at least 56 simple majority out of 109 to enable the alliance
to control the Senate.

It was learnt that the ongoing talks and negotiations have
delayed the declaration of Goje for Senate Presidency. At a caucus
meeting of the PDP, its senators and senators-elect, it was
resolved that “all the senators-elect should stay together to study
the situation until the time for the election of principal
officers.”

Some APC senators-elect, who spoke in confidence, confirmed that
Ekweremadu has been reaching out to them “preaching peace, unity
and the need to uphold the principle of separation of powers.”

A reliable source, who spoke in confi dence, said: “The
intrigues for the Office of the President of the Senate have
heightened with the PDP seeking to retain its present stake in the
upper chamber.

“Already, the party is plotting a joint ticket by Goje and
Ekweremadu or Ndume/Adamu-Ekweremadu alliance. “We initially
underrated the plot until Ekweremadu started meeting with APC
Senators-elect under the guise of fighting for the upholding of the
principle of separation of powers. “The opposition wants a repeat
of 2015 power game in the Senate and it is determined to divide the
APC.

“The reality is that PDP is desirous of a weighty slot in the
Senate to be able to checkmate President Muhammadu Buhari and the
ruling APC.

“At the heart of it all also is the calculation for 2023. The
opposition does not want to give APC a breathing space before the
next elections.

“Also, the PDP seeks to accommodate the South-East in the
National Assembly hierarchy since APC might not give the
geopolitical zone a significant appointment.” Asked of the status
of talks, another top source added: “Most PDP leaders prefer
Goje-Ekweremadu ticket. Those loyal to Saraki do not really support
Ndume and Adamu because of fear of vengeance if they emerge the
Senate President.

“Do not forget that Saraki’s administration removed and
suspended Ndume as Senate Leader. It is a wound that is yet to
heal. To Saraki, the emergence of Ndume will be suicidal. “As for
Adamu, he led the antagonistic Parliamentary Support Group (PSG)
which coordinated many assaults on Saraki in the chamber. “Adamu
only escaped suspension by a whisker because of his old age and
long standing relationship with the late kingmaker of Kwara
politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki. “The Goje-Ekweremadu option appears
more realistic than others.

But Ndume and Adamu, who are still bitter with Buhari for not
appreciating their loyalty, may play a spoiler’s game.” Upon
enquiries, a PDP senator-elect simply said: “We had a caucus
meeting last week and we resolved that all our senators-elect
should stay together to study the situation until the time for the
election of principal officers As at press time, the Ahmed Lawan
camp, which got wind of the latest plot, was improving on its
lobbying of PDP senators-elect.

A loyalist of Lawan said: “We are working round the clock to
ensure that our candidate wins the leadership election in June. We
have also gained more support from PDP camp too. “We are working
hard to secure a comfortable figure for Lawan to emerge as Senate
President. So far, there is no cause for alarm.” THE NATION
ISATURDAY I APRIL 27 I 2019 •Lawan •Ndume •Goje •Ekweremadu 2 ,, n
Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, n Northern Operation 9th Senate:PDP
plots Goje-Ekweremadu ticket •Ndume-Ekweremadu, Adamu-Ekweremadu
tickets also on the card •Negotiation heightens in camps •No cause
for alarm, says Lawan’s camp.