APC Leaders to Sanction Atiku, Tambuwal over Support for Saraki, Dogara
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress is due to sanction the former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, over their roles during the National Assembly elections which saw Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara emerge the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
According to reports, Atiku and Tambuwal influenced support and votes for Saraki and Dogara respectively against the Party’s will.
A source within the party reportedly claimed that the ruling party had been aware of moves by the Peoples Democratic Party to secure principal offices in the National Assembly and by Atiku to become President in 2019.
The party therefore backed core APC members, Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, for the positions of Senate President and Speaker respectively.
The source said, “We started keeping tabs on Atiku in January when he showed that he was not interested in the success of President Muhammadu Buhari when Buhari was our presidential candidate. Our fears were reignited when the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, paid Atiku a visit shortly before the elections.
“A large section of Atiku’s supporters defected to the PDP a day after that meeting with Jonathan and that was why Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Rufai Alkali, said shortly after that meeting that Atiku would soon return to the PDP. Atiku even admitted himself that he did not attend Buhari’s rallies.
“Don’t you find it curious that the first person that Saraki visited after emerging as Senate President was Atiku? We have information that Atiku told his supporters in the Senate to vote for Saraki and that was what happened. We know that Atiku is still nursing a presidential ambition for 2019 and he is now beginning to build blocks.
“Tambuwal is also nursing a presidential ambition and needs to retain control over the House. He will not be able to retain such influence if Gbajabiamila is the Speaker.”
