Following the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari to seek reelection in 2019, many senators in support of the reordered sequence of election have backed out.
The National Assembly had threatened to override President Buhari following his refusal to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which listed the presidential election as the last during general elections.
However, The Eagle Online gathered that with the declaration of Buhari to seek reelection, his backers in the Senate have increased to about 60.
The Senate has 109 members.
According to one of the sources, some senators who were not sure of Buhari’s intention to seek reelection have now come to identify with the group.
Based on the development, the camp of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has decreased.
Saraki’s camp is championing the cause to veto the President if he fails to accent to the amended Electoral Act.
A source said: “Some of the senators who are loyal to Saraki are now forced to associate with President Buhari in order to get the party’s ticket in 2019.”
The Eagle Online learnt that one of the representatives of Delta State in the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, is coordinating the protection of Buhari’s interest.
According to a source: “In the Senate now, about the closest person to the President is Senator Omo-Agege.
“It is no longer a secret that he is perhaps the most committed supporter of President Buhari and he is reaping the reward for it by having unfettered access to the President.”