DSS Withdraws Security Aides of Saraki, Dogara

DSS Withdraws Security Aides of Saraki, Dogara

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Sunday recalled half of its operatives assigned to Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

The surprise move comes bare 24 hours before Monday’s big-stake talks between the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo and the members of the nPDP to be led by Hon Dogara.

Saraki is also a member of nPDP, the faction that broke away from the PDP in 2013 to team up with APC for the 2015 elections.

According to TheCable, the security operatives attached to the two presiding officers of the National Assembly were directed to report to the DSS headquarters “with immediate effect”.

While no reason has been given for the abrupt withdrawal, there are concerns the order emanated from the Presidency.

Sources at the National Assembly confirmed the recall of the operatives, which also comes amid heightened tensions between the executive and legislature following the implication of Saraki in the Offa robbery.

The nPDP had been up in arms with the APC, complaining that it had been marginalised by the ruling party after helping them to oust the PDP from power in 2015.

There are speculations that nPDP members will defect from APC ahead of the 2019 election.

But the move by the presidency seems to be an indication that counter-measures have been taken in the event of a split.