Security Agents Lay Siege On Saraki, Ekweremadu’s Residences
Security agencies are reportedly laying siege on the homes of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja.
The move is said to be an apparent ploy to prevent them from making it to the National Assembly today because of an alleged plan by lawmakers to decamp en masse from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Mr Saraki was summoned to appear at police department for further investigation into alleged killings in Kwara State at 8:00 a.m. today. It remained unclear why the police blocked his residence at dawn.
Reports said the planned cross carpeting, if allowed to take place, would render the APC a minority party before the end of Tuesday.
Mr Saraki’s special adviser on new media, Olu Onemola, confirmed the siege to PREMIUM TIMES.
The media aide to Mr Ekweremadu, Uche Anichukwu, also confirmed the siege to PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday morning.
“The house is currently surrounded by security agencies,” Mr Anichukwu said “since early in the morning.”
Mr Anichukwu is not sure if his boss will be allowed to attend today’s plenary.
“That I cannot say. When you attack a man’s house, how is he supposed to be at plenary?” he questioned.
Kola Ologbondiyan, a spokesperson for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Nigeria’s democracy was under assault, a development he said would be resisted.
“Democracy has been placed under a jackboot. We are now in a totalitarian government,” Mr Ologbondiyan told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Tuesday morning. “You can not stop the National Assembly, which is a key element of a constitutional republic.”
“We will resist this.”
A spokesperson for the APC did not immediately answer calls seeking comments.
The police are yet to provide reasons for the apparent siege.
However, Mr Saraki was summoned by the police and asked to report by 8:00 a.m. to day in connection to the Offa robbery incident in Kwara State for which the police said some suspects mentioned Mr Saraki as a sponsor.
