The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus, yesterday, faulted President Muhammadu Buhari, over his comment that the National Assembly spent over N1trillion for constituency projects without result.

This was as the senators also rejected the outcome of Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections, on the grounds that it was marred by irregularities and violence that led to death of some persons.

On the issue of constituency projects, the lawmakers told President Buhari to ask his ministers and heads of agencies to explain what happened to the money spent on the projects.

The Caucus, led by the Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, declared these positions while addressing journalists at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the Caucus, Abaribe said: “We are not worried by Buhari’s statement because it was erroneous; someone must have written a speech and put errors on it.”

He explained that the constituency projects were domiciled with the executive, saying, “if he has not seen anything, he should ask his ministers and the head of agencies.”

On Kogi and Bayelsa elections, Abaribe said that the results announced were not the true reflection of what happened on the field.

He lamented the intimidation, the killings of Nigerians just to win an election and also the alleged connivance of security agencies with the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the elections.

The lawmaker also noted that all the gains made by the PDP starting from 1999 seemed to have been eroded from Edo, Osun, Ekiti, including the last Saturday’s elections conducted by the INEC.

The PDP senators said that after the declaration of results and purported winning in Kogi State, APC hoodlums went to Salome Acheju’s house and burnt her alive, “for the mere fact that she was an opposition leader and a woman.”

“Our problem is not that people should not vie for election, but for the fact that ones you are an opposition you are targeted to be killed and if not addressed now, it will be worse in the future.

“We are calling on the President and the Inspector-General of Police to fish out the killers, because what they are telling us is that as opposition, we are targeted to be killed.

“We heard the police are launching an investigation, we don’t want it swept under the carpet. We spoke with Senator Dino, his family members and others were killed in the name of election. If the matter continues to stay this way, we don’t know what will happen in 2023. Let the government take action.

“We are in touch with our people in Kogi and Bayelsa and they told us that whatever they saw was not the true reflection. We do not see any reason why the INEC can announce such a result,” the lawmakers said.

On electoral amendment which was not signed by President Buhari, Abaribe said that it was not the fault of the National Assembly, adding, “if those bills were signed, what is happening today wouldn’t have happened.”

He said that they would work on the Electoral Act and resend to the President for his assent.

On Bayelsa, the lawmaker refuted the insinuation that the internal wrangling in the opposition party was responsible for the outcome of the elections, saying that it had nothing to do with the killing and maiming of the people.

Also speaking on the allegation by the President on the constituency projects while addressing newsmen, the spokesman of the Senate, Godiya Akwashiki, said that Buhari had not written to the Senate officially on the matter.

He also challenged those kicking against the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa, to go to court and seek redress. (New Telegraph)

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