Budget padding: PDP calling for Akpabio to resign is nothing short of crass buffoonery, says APC

Kunle Sanni

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed calls for the resignation of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio over the recent controversies regarding issues of budget padding by members of the National Assembly.

This was contained in a statement issued by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka on Friday.

Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi while speaking to BBC Hausa Service last week said the 2024 budget was padded by N3trillion.

Ningi alleged that President Bola Tinubu is executing a N28trillion budget different from N25trillion he said the National Assembly debated and approved.

Westernpost reported how the leadership of the senate issued a three months suspension against the senator.

The opposition PDP, on the other hand, had called for the resignation of Akpabio.

But the APC on its reaction, said the opposition party is quick to “feast on shame” without verifying facts.

“It is eerily comical that the PDP, a party with a sordid legacy of monumental corruption would suggest that the President of the Senate should turn himself to anti-graft agencies for investigation,” the statement reads.

“This is the entity that turned graft and corruption to statecraft, the same entity that cannot account for funds raised for the building of its own national headquarters, making such a ridiculous call. The PDP should lead by example and heed its own call.

“The legislative authority of the Senate includes the authority to make its own rules and adopt its own procedures for discharging its constitutional mandate.

“That extends to modifying its rules and standing orders in accordance with its rules and procedures, and in observance of all applicable legal and constitutional standards.

“It also has the authority to discipline its members in accordance with its institutional and constitutional due process.

“The President of the Senate has done nothing wrong to warrant him stepping aside on account of this or any other disclosed matter.”