MORE CRISIS LOOMS IN APC, REPS THREATENED MASS DEFECTION

Some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives are threatening to dump the party over what they called the attitude the present government towards them, Daily Trust has learnt.
Sources told Daily Trust on Monday that the APC lawmakers are embittered that the executive arm has completely neglected them in the scheme of things, especially in terms of consultations before certain decisions are reached.
The lawmakers are also said to be angered by the fact that their constituents are going through hard times, while the government seems unperturbed, with no efforts made to ameliorate the difficulties.
It was gathered that the bitterness among the APC lawmakers necessitated a meeting last Wednesday where they expressed their anger with some of the lawmakers openly saying they would dump the party.
"It was really a hot meeting. The kind of anger directed at the executive was too much. Majority of those at the meeting said openly that they would leave the party.
In fact, some said most of their constituents have already pitched tents with other parties, so they said they would join their constituents. Most of those that said so are still standing by their words.
"The truth of the matter is that people are suffering, and the government seems docile. Most of us also feel that the government is not carrying us along in most of its decisions. There's no consultation or anything like that. Things are not done that way.
"But I can remember the House leader, Femi, begged us and advocated constructive engagement.
He appealed that we should approve the virement and then later engage the executive," an APC lawmaker told Daily Trust.
Some of the APC lawmakers told our correspondent that President Muhammadu Buhari has lost tremendous goodwill among majority of them based on his attitude towards them.
"As it is now, if anybody brings anything like impeachment of the president, I believe majority of the lawmakers, including APC members, will support," one of the lawmakers said.
Amidst this, however, it was gathered that the APC lawmakers agreed to support the president in approving the N180 billion virement request he sent to the National Assembly. "They (executive) have agreed to trade off with constituency projects.
The finance minister released 30 percent of constituency projects last Friday. She had earlier released 20 percent, which makes it 50 percent.
We'll now wait and see how they go about implementing the remaining 50 percent," said a lawmaker.
Daily Trust further gathered that the virement would be approved between tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday based on the decision of the leadership of the House.
- Daily Trust.