APC, CUPP differ over alleged attack on NASS

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have expressed divergent views over the claim of the CUPP that the APC is planning to attack the National Assembly while the APC also alleged that the leadership of the National Assembly under Senator Bukola Saraki is planning to prevent members of the National Assembly to reconvene as planned.

The CUPP had alleged that it has uncovered yet another plot by the APC-led Federal Government to attack the National Assembly with a ploy to put the nation’s democracy in jeopardy.

This CUPP also claimed that the APC’s fresh plot included the surreptitious filing of a suit and seeking out a compromised judge who will in controversial circumstances grant an ex-parte application directing that one third of the Senators/House members can demand to open either Chambers of the National Assembly.

The CUPP National spokesperson,Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said the coalition has been informed that the plot also includes invitation and detention of the leadership of the National Assembly by the Police just before the controversial injunction from a magistrate court that will pave way for the unlawful and violent change of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The Coalition further alleged that some of the security agencies will provide security cover for the ‘coupists’ while a section of the media has been co-opted to churn out news and justification for such evil plots.

The CUPP spokesperson said, “This kind of desperation by the outgoing APC and Presidency can only be likened to the last kicks of a dying horse which usually gives it the hope that it will salvage the head which is already off.

The ship of the APC is fast sinking and is obviously beyond redemption. Nigerians are daily convinced that that the APC was a mistake made in 2015 and are also resolved that they are a mistake to be corrected in 2019.

“It is worrisome that the party entrusted by Nigerians to provide leadership, growth and development for the country could in one plot compromise the judiciary, the legislature, the Police, the Department of State Services, the media and indeed all institutions of our democracy”.

The CUPP therefore placed Nigerians and all lovers of democracy on alert to watch out for the unfolding of this plot and called on the Presidency and the APC not to destroy the nation’s democracy.

But the APC in a statement signed on Tuesday in Abuja by the acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, faulted the claim of the CUPP that APC-led administration was planning to “attack” the National Assembly leadership, abuse court processes, among other allegations were grand plans to frustrate resumption of the lawmakers.

The statement reads in part: “Such crude practices are rejected templates of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which the so-called “Coalition” represents and definitely alien to the progressive APC-led administration.

“Again, we consider this new rounds of falsehood by the sponsored “Coalition” as a last-ditch attempt by the outgoing and minority National Assembly leadership of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to prevent the reconvening of the National Assembly and continue a minority-rule in an APC-dominated federal legislature.

“We are in a democracy and are governed by laws. A few cannot hold the legislative arm of government to ransom through their selfish political games.

The National Assembly must be reconvened immediately to attend to crucial and pending legislative business. The majority must be allowed to lead”.