There are very strong indications that the security operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) attached to Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the two principal officers of both chambers of the National Assembly, have been withdrawn from them.

It is understood that 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While no reason was given for the withdrawal, TheCable is reporting that it is believed that the operatives were withdrawn at the instance of the presidency. The development comes ahead of talks between Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the nPDP team to be led by Dogara scheduled today (Monday).

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. Bear in mind that the nPDP had recently issued an ultimatum to APC for a meeting, 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 members of the nPDP will defect from APC and present a candidate to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019.