The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, on Wednesday distanced the party from Toyin Saraki's travails. Mr. Odigie-Oyegun told newsmen in Abuja that Saraki's invitation to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not orchestrated by the party or any of its members.

"I want to assure you that the APC has absolutely nothing to do with that case. It could have been triggered, in fact, by the opposition. "So, we are totally, completely and absolutely innocent of it."

Shortly after news broke that the EFCC was probing Mrs. Saraki, a group of senators loyal to Senate President Bukola Saraki, under the aegis of 'Like Minds,' released a press statement questioning the investigation. They expressed concerns that the probe might be politically-motivated and suggested that the leadership of the APC might be hounding Mrs. Saraki as a way of getting at her husband.

Mr. Saraki has been locked in battle with the leadership of the ruling party over his emergence as senate president on June 9 contrary to the wishes of the party.

Joseph Waku, a chieftain of the APC, had also on Saturday accused Mr. Tinubu of masterminding a "baseless petition" that led to the invitation of Mrs. Saraki by the EFCC, a charge the former Lagos governor stoutly denied. But in a statement Sunday, the Kwara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party said it was a petition it (PDP) submitted to the EFCC that got Mrs. Saraki into trouble.

On Wednesday, the APC chairman said his party has no hand in the the matter, insisting that the crisis rocking the party had been "amicably resolved". "Thanks to Mr President, who once again, made it clear that everybody had no alternative than to listen to what the party says," Mr. Oyegun said. "I think his message resonated very intensely with all the members. He still did not interfere, he insisted that the leadership and members should resolve whatever was militating against the resolution.

"Presidential prestige came into play and that means a lot. He emphasized that if people hadn't gotten his message before, in this political system, the party is number one."

On insecurity, the chairman said the insurgents were not gaining the upper hand against the Nigerian Army. "Considering the fact that a full government is not in place yet, security is in fact improving, insurgents no longer hold Nigerian territory.

"The insurgents have no territories, so, they are aiming at soft targets. Any fool, any idiot can bomb a church, these are soft targets. Because they have been massively defeated, they have resorted to picking on soft targets. On the achievement recorded by the government in the last two months, he said the achievements in two months have been tremendous, adding, "look at the last trip to the U.S.

"In two months Nigeria has suddenly become one of the nations to be reckoned with. That status, that impression of Nigeria always having bad news has been obliterated."

On the leadership crisis in the Senate, the chairman said the upper chamber would be treated differently as it had already chosen its principal officers. He assured people of the South-East that although they did not get any of the principal positions in the lower House, they would not be left out of positions in the legislative chamber.

He commended the legislators for their sense of duty and maturity over handling of issues in the lower chamber. "We went into consultations and discussions with the presiding officers of the House of Representatives, and let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to their maturity to their sense of responsibility."