Jonathan Plots to Use Security on Senators Who Dumped PDP

Shaken by the bold move of the defections from its camp to the All
Progressives Congress (APC), President Goodluck Jonathan and the
PDP is plotting to declare the seats of defecting senators vacant and
further their grip on some security agencies to oppress Bukola Asari
and other Senators.


“The PDP believes that the Senate leadership should brave the
odds and declare the seats of defecting senators vacant – in line
with the spirit and letters of the constitution. The party is of the
opinion that the court should determine the fate of the defecting
senators.


“As part of the plot, once the seats of the affected senators are
declared vacant, the police and security agencies will disallow
them from entering the hallowed chamber of the Senate, until
there is a ruling by any court.


“And since the wheel of justice is very slow, it is technically
assumed that the affected senators have completed their tenure.”


A credible source told The Nation about the secret move.
11 senators left PDP for the APC on Wednesday, raising the number of
APC senators to 43, PDP 63.


The PDP is said to be mounting pressure on Senate President David
Mark to declare the defecting senators’ seats vacant. But, it was
gathered that Mark, who is seen by many as “a defender of
democracy” since 2010, declined to join the plot.


A source said: “The PDP is going for the kill because of the threats
which defectors might pose to its majority grip on the Senate. The
only challenge the party is having is the senate president who, as a
democrat, does not believe in recourse to draconian action.”


A former governor, who is one of the defecting senators, said:
"We are aware of the plot to declare our seats vacant and bar us from
the Senate, but they cannot succeed."