APC Senators eat humble pie, attend session presided by Ekweremadu

Senators of the All Progressives Congress, under the aegis of Unity Forum, on Wednesday failed to make good their threat to boycott all senate sessions presided by the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Unity Forum consists of senators opposed to the election of senate president, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy Mr. Ekweremadu, who belongs to the opposition PDP.

The forum is led by Ahmed Lawan, Mr. Saraki’s challenger for the senate president’s position.

Other key members of the group include George Akume (Benue State), Suleiman Hunkunyi (Kaduna) and Kabir Marafa (Zamfara) among others.

On November 11, speaking for the Unity Forum, Mr. Hunkunyi said the group’s members had resolved not to attend any plenary session presided by Mr. Ekweremadu.

He explained that the APC senators would not recognise the leadership of an opposition senator.

He made the comment after members of the group staged a walkout from a session led by Mr. Ekweremadu, as Mr. Saraki was away at the presidential villa, attending the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers.

But on Wednesday, Mr. Ekweremadu, for the second time, presided in the absence of Mr. Saraki, who was attending Hannah Awolowo’s burial in Ogun State.

The All Progressives Congress senators stayed put despite their November 11 threat.

All the frontline members of the Lawan-led group attended the session.

Mr. Ekweremadu was elected deputy to Mr. Saraki of the All Progressives Congress, after the latter, with the support of the PDP, emerged Senate President defying the wishes of his ruling party.

Neither Mr. Hunkuyi nor any other member of the group could be immediately reached for comments.

Mr. Marafa did not answer or return telephone calls. He also did not respond to a text message to his telephone.