Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday said he had no plan to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He described the insinuation as "absurd and laughable."

According to him, "it is just cheap blackmail by political adversaries who want to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

"And those making such desperate allegations should remember that I willingly left the PDP on matters of principle when the party was in power.

"Is it now that the party is out of government and in opposition that I will now return having worked so hard for my party in the last general elections?"

He stated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he remains a loyal party member and a leader of the party, committed to contributing his quota to building the party and helping it to deliver its promise of change to Nigerians.

He urged all members of the National Assembly to put politicking behind them and settle down for the proper business of legislation.

Saraki said: "Our country is going through very trying times. We have the challenge of insecurity in the NorthEast.

"The massive problem of youth unemployment and general economic challenges occasioned by the fall in revenue.

"All these against the huge public expectation that propelled our party into office. We have pursued our legitimate aspirations appropriately.

"Now that the issues have been settled, we need to move on in the larger interest of our people, without whose mandate we would not have been in a position to aspire to these positions in the first place."

He stated his readiness to embrace every member of the Senate regardless of their political leanings following the leadership elections just concluded. He described President Muhammadu Buhari's reaction to Tuesday' s election of National Assembly leaders as a "great mark of leadership" and a demonstration of the President's commitment to democracy.

In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja, Saraki lauded Buhari for remaining steadfast in his commitment to the principle of non-interference in National Assembly politics even in the face of great pressure on him to act otherwise.

"This shows that Mr. President is a man of great conviction who, in his own words, belong to everyone and to no one," he stated.