10TH NASS: Senate Minority Caucus alleges plot to foist one-party dictatorship

Opposition Senators set for showdown ahead of Senate’s resumption from Eid break, cautions new Senate leadership and the Executive against aiding any group inside or outside the Senate to divide and destabilise the minority parties and the Senate institution

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With just three weeks into the life of the Tenth National Assembly, Opposition Senators are accusing the leadership of the Red Chamber and the President Bola Tinubu-led executive arm of government of participating in an alleged plot to foist a one-party dictatorship in the country.

As revealed in a statement by eight members of the Senate Minority Caucus on Saturday, the lawmakers stressed that any attempt upon resumption of the Senate, to foist a compromised leadership on them or a one-party dictatorship would be resisted.

The statement was signed by Senators Mohammed Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central); Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West); Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South) and Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), Abba Moro (PDP, Benue North); Ezenwa Onyewuchi (PDP, Imo East); Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) and Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra South).

According to the lawmakers, 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. The opposition Senators thus noted that the minority Parties would meet when the Senate reconvenes on July 4 and, in consultation with their respective political parties, select their leaders without undue interference from anti-democratic forces within or outside the Senate.

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“It has come to the notice of the Minority Political Parties in the Senate of an attempt by forces inside and outside the Senate to divide the Minority Parties and foist a pliant and compromised leadership on them.

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 institution of the Senate and Nigeria,” the statement read.

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