Saraki’s “bloodless coup” or better put in military terms “blitzkrieg” as agitated members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) chose to call it, was subterfuge of the very highest order.
The hierarchy of the Party had on defeating an incumbent Government in 2015, the first time in our history, positioned and backed Ahmad Lawan, a ranking member and Senator representing Yobe North Senatorial District as the next President of the NASS.
It was impossible for the former Kwara State Governor to have pulled through but for the support of the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The APC had to ensure a repeat performance won’t happen in 2019 by whipping members in line, on time and ensuring a last minute discussion by President Muhammadu Buhari with Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central Senatorial Zone) puncturing any hope of a deja vu.
Fast forward to 2023 with a President-Elect (SW) and a Vice President-Elect (NE) both of same faith, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and top Party apparatchik have tacitly endorsed the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West, Godswill Obot Akpabio for Senate President.
What will have been a consensus and easy crowning with the withdrawal of Senators Ndume, Umahi and Barau Jibrin, backing Akpabio, is becoming a hard nut to crack with Yari refusing to step down.
Abdul’Aziz Yari, a former Zamfara State Governor and a ranking member in the Senate has insisted to run the whole race.
“What is going to happen that day, it is going to happen based on the instructions of the Constitution and not for anyone.” The election of the President of NASS is the Senate’s business”, the Zamfara West Senator was quoted as saying.
The APC controls 59 seats, PDP 36, LP 8, NNPP 2, APGA 1, SDP 2 and YPP 1.
At the burial of the father of Bayelsa State Governor today, Pa Abraham Diri, Yari was seen flirting with the highest echelons of the PDP. Present was VP Yemi Osinbajo, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku Abubakar, PDP Vice Presidential Candidate: Ifeanyi Okowa, LP Presidential Candidate Peter Obi, Senator-Elect Tambuwal, Senator-Elect Ned Nwoko and a host of other Senators.
Are we going to have a Saraki 2.0?
