Yesterday, 9News Nigeria brought you exclusive reports (with live exclusive videos) of the ongoing political tussle in the Senate. The news filtered through with our correspondents staying on it to make sure you do not miss a thing.
But, in case you missed the details that led to yesterday’s drama in Abuja, we have brought you a juicy breakdown as to how it all happened…
Few days ago, Buhari and Oshimole (APC national chairman) had a meeting with Saraki to plead with him not to defect.
He was offered any position in the APC government. Saraki refused, indicating humiliation from the Buhari’s regime as a reason.
On Monday, Buhari and Oshimole had a meeting with Senator Kwankwanso, begging him not to defect.
They told him to pick a candidate he wants that would replace Gov. Gandjude, the current Kano state governor who he has a feud with.
Sen. Kwankwaso refused.
So APC tried initiating plan B. The grand plan was to impeach Saraki and Ekweremadu yesterday morning and install the Senate majority leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate president and also stop the plenary session that would move the motion for the defection.
One stone to kill two birds.
The plan was to stop Saraki and Ekweremadu from being present in the session yesterday morning, so that the motion would be moved by the Senate majority leader and the impeachment procedure will be initiated.
The Efcc and Police were used to lay siege in the houses of the Senate president and his deputy so as they won’t be present.
Saraki got knowledge of it, left his house the previous night and slept elsewhere. And still asked his convoy to move out yesterday morning in their usual manner to give the idea that he was inside.
And the police fell for it.
The deputy, Ekweremadu was held back by the police and wasn’t allowed to leave.
For a little while, Saraki’s position was unknown only for him to appear at the Senate house by 10am.
Fifteen minutes later, 15 senators including Senator Kwankwaso defected from the APC to the PDP.
And APC, with 44 senators out of 109, are now the minority in the house.
And in an instance, the majority leader Senator Ahmed Lawan suddenly became the minority leader. He went to the session yesterday with a plan of becoming Senate president at the end of the day, but ended up being the minority leader.
The most brutal part of this is, Senator Saraki wasn’t among the defectors. The captain leaves the ship last. He hasn’t finished wrecking havoc in the APC.
Gov Gandjude of Kano is pissed having found out that the president and national chairman are willing to throw him under the bus just for Senator Kwankwanso to remain in APC.
APC just opened the Pandora’s box.
And oh! Senator Kwankwanso is like a god in Kano. Could this be a big hindrance to President Buhari getting 2 million votes in Kano in next year’s elections?
Is Buhari’s political career coming to an end by this devastating chess move by Saraki?
Let’s wait and see as the drama unfolds.
Stay logged on to 9News Nigeria to get all the latest report as it happens in Nigeria’s seat of power.
This is the Game of Chess. Soon, there’ll be a checkmate.
Report by Laa Pulga Prince
