APC summons NEC meeting over Saraki, Dogara

The All Progressives Congress has summoned a session of its National Executive Committee (NEC) for Tuesday to discuss the defiance of the party’s directive by the President of the Senate,

Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

Ahead of the said meeting, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with Sen. Ahmed Lawan and other senators in the Unity Forum group.

Tuesday’s NEC meeting in Abuja, a reliable party source said, is meant to “review the situation in the National Assembly, especially the defiance of the directive of the party on the choice of principal officers by Saraki and Dogara.”

It was also learnt that the NEC may come up with recommendations on how to reconcile the warring groups in the National Assembly.

But ahead of the session, some leaders have been pushing for sanctions against Saraki and Dogara.

A top party source said: “Some of our leaders are insisting that the APC must wield the big stick against those who disrespected the party’s leadership.

“They said once the party is not assertive, its authority will be eroded and it may not help the survival of APC.

“But we have some moderate elements seeking amicable resolution of all the issues at stake in order not to deepen the crisis in the National Assembly.

“Tentatively, the NEC of APC will meet on Tuesday to address some of these challenges.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “There are enough provisions to checkmate the erring members because the APC Constitution is explicit in declaring that the party is supreme.