President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan has denied allegations that he sat on letters from senators who have expressed intention to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lawan who reacted to the allegations in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi said there is no defecting letter before him.
He described the report as untrue and one that is unverified.
On Friday some online newspapers had reported that Lawan was allegedly sitting over the defection letters of at least 12 APC senators in order to block any impeachment threat against his presidency.
According to the reports, Lawan sat on the defection letters because if the defection letters of the APC 12 Senators are read on the floor, the numerical strength of the ruling party will be reduced to 50 senators, which will eventually threaten Lawan’s seat as the Senate president.
However, the Senate president denied the claims, alleging it is the handiwork of some mischief makers.
The statement reads, “We have seen a story on social media and some online newspapers purporting that the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, is sitting on letters from some Senators allegedly intimating him of their defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The story insinuated that Lawan is sitting on the purported letters to protect his position as the President of the Senate.
“We hereby state categorically that the story is an utter falsehood as there is no such letter before the Senate President.
“The report mentioned only Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa as one of the affected Senators.
“Obviously, the purveyors of the syndicated lies had not even bothered to confirm from the Distinguished Senator if and when he submitted any such letter to the Senate President.
“It is public knowledge that the Senate President has always promptly read out at plenaries letters by Senators defecting from one party to another.
“That is why he has continued to enjoy the confidence and full cooperation of his fellow Distinguished Senators irrespective of party affiliations.
“Apparently, some vested interests want to magnify challenges to sow seeds of discord in Parliament in promotion of their selfish agenda.
“We wish to reiterate that the Senate President is not withholding or sitting on any letter of whatever content from any of his Distinguished Senator colleagues.
“Therefore, any story purporting such exists only in the imagination of the mischief-makers circulating it.”
