Timi Frank reveals hidden presidency plot to allegedly invade NASS

The immediate past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Timi Frank has said that attempts to forcefully reconvene the upper chamber of the National Assembly is not for the purpose of considering the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

According to Frank, who recently dumped the APC, the attempt is only a smokescreen for the illegal sacking of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

It will be recalled that there has been calls for the Senate to reconvene so as to pass the budget of the electoral body for the 2019 general elections.

The call was first made by President Muhammadu Buhari, with APC Senators making similar calls. These calls have been interpreted severally as an attempt to force a change in the leadership of the Senate, especially as it affects Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Frank, who has always been in the bad books of the ruling party, alleged that there were plans to forcefully reconvene the Senate in connivance with the presidency.

He however warned that no other person is permitted to reconvene any arm of the National Assembly when it is on break except the presiding officers.

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According to him, reopening the Senate under the guise of considering the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for funds for the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC towards the conduct of the 2019 general elections flies in the face.

Frank said: “The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang was caught on video leading about 10 APC Senators, led by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan to meet with the President and to urge the President to provide them security to enable them forcefully open the doors of the Senate Chambers and conduct an illegal sitting.

“This, if allowed to happen, will not only represent a clear breach of the Constitution but also the height of illegality and impunity in this country. The APC Senators are only interested in gaining access to the chambers to carry out a sinister move against the presiding officers of the Senate and not anywhere near considering Mr. President’s fund request for INEC.

“Besides, available records show that INEC has enough funds to commence preparation for the upcoming elections in the 2018 budget even as additional budgetary allocation would be made for the agency in the 2019 budget.

“Let me add that the Senate alone cannot approve funds for INEC without the concurrence of the House of Representatives. So, the attempt to illegally reopen the Senate by a handful of APC Senators therefore becomes suspect and must not be allowed to happen.

“I want to call on President Buhari not to accede to the illegal request of these Senators who are only out to gain underserved relevance and political patronage in the buildup to the primaries of the party soon.

“I also want Nigerians to be aware of this illegal plot and I call on them to rise to save the institution of the National Assembly which is the only defining characteristic of the nation’s democracy,” he said.

 

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