APC senator vows to work against Saraki’s return to Senate

A Nigerian lawmaker of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abu Ibrahim, has vowed to cooperate with other lawmakers to work against the re-election of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Saraki left the ruling party in July 2018 and returned to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was accused of using his position Senate president to work against the progress of president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Senator Ibrahim, who is representing Katsina South Senatorial district in the Senate, said Saraki’s removal and absence from the National Assembly would ensure Buhari consolidates on his first term when re-elected to office.

“I’m sure of that. I’m definitely sure he (Saraki) will not come back as Senate president. If he’s lucky, he gets his seat because we would work against him until he losses,” Ibrahim said during a visit to Daily Trust newspaper.

Ibrahim is one of the Senators that will not return to the Senate after the 2019 elections but said he was sure Saraki would not be the presiding officer in the National Assembly after the elections.

“Quote me, we would do everything possible to see that he loses his seat…It is not even the issue of becoming the Senate president. It’s a challenge I’m giving him.”

“Once the new one (Senator) comes in, it will have nothing to do with the other one – Maybe 30 or 40 per cent (of senators) would come back, so there would be new leadership; Saraki will not be the president,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim said the amount of turnout at Buhari’s re-election campaigns was an indication that the president would get a second term.

He also expressed confidence in Buhari to continue in his administration’s fight against corruption, growing the economy and addressing security challenges.