'Why You Must Reconvene National Assembly Now' – APC Tells PDP, Saraki

The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to urgently reconvene the National Assembly to enable the passage of the Electoral Amendment Act Bill.

The APC in a statement released by its acting national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, on Friday, August 17, said the Electoral Amendment Bill is alive and waiting assent.

Nabena also alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party is hiding under the “yet to be signed bill” to draw attention away from the treasonable actions of the Senate President for refusing to reconvene the National Assembly.

He said: “The Electoral Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly is alive and awaiting assent. However, assent to Bills in all democratic governments reflects the prudence and discretion of the president in balancing the powers of key constitutional bodies and understanding the concerns of the executive.”

“While we strongly condemn the abuse of office by the Senate President backed by his PDP cohorts in sabotaging the executive, specifically INEC, all well-meaning Nigerians have a duty to speak up and ensure that the National Assembly performs its constitutional role and not serve an individual’s personal interest and sinister ends of the opposition PDP.

We call on all Nigerians, civil society and indeed the international community to resist the ongoing travesty and legislative rascality being perpetuated by the Senate President and the PDP.

The sanctity of our electoral system is being threatened by this orchestrated sabotage and deliberate attempt to weaken INEC as we prepare for General Elections in 2019. The National Assembly must be convened immediately,” Nasbena said.

The APC’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has called on lawmakers of the ruling party to do all within their powers to ensure that the National Assembly reconvenes.

This call came after Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara adjourned plenary in July shortly after the police laid a siege to the residences of the nation’s number three citizen and Ike Ekweremadu, his deputy.

Oshiomhole, however, criticised the adjournment, adding that it is slowing down the progress of the current administration.