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Lagos/Abuja — Nearly two months after President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua left country to Saudi Arabia on medical grounds, the Senate President David Mark has declared that the head of state's absence has not generated any constitutional crisis.

This comes as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that opposition politicians are determined to cause confusion over the issue of whether Vice-President, Goodluck Jona-than should rule in acting capacity.

But the coalition of opposition political parties have said Jonathan only needs to muster the political will to deal with ministers and top government officials who are agents of mischief.

The senate president made his views known to journalists yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Mark, the third in line in succession to the ailing president, stated that Yar'Adua had not breached the constitution by his absence.

"There is none (constitutional crisis) yet on his absence from office," argued the senate president.

According to him, "the civil service rule is quite different from the constitution and so far, the president has not breached any constitution with his absence."

Mark said that members of the senate deliberated the Yar'Adua's absence and every Senator was given a chance to express his or her views on the situation that has kept him away for 57 days.

He defended the legislators' decision to embark on a visit to Saudi Arabia to see Yar'Adua, saying there is nothing wrong with that move.

He said: "Did you listen to our resolution? (the decision to go to Saudi Arabia). Is there anything wrong with us finding out? If there are so many options, we have taken a different option. Why must we take the same option like others? Is that the only option available to us?"

On the forthcoming election in Anambra State, Mark said that stakeholders in the state and in the country had resolved that every candidate should be given equal opportunity through a free and fair election, saying Anambra would be a "test case" for the 2011 elections.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Ahmed Alkali, the PDP said allegations of disunity within the party is contrived by opposition politicians.

The party was apparently reacting to statements some days ago from the office of the vice-president, warning mischief-makers, ministers and top government officials.

But it was gathered that the position of the party is coming in the midst of disagreement among members of the party's Board of Trustees (BoT) over whether Jonathan should be acting president pending Yar'Adua's return.

"The party has observed an unfortunate emergent trend among opposition politicians who are desperately trying to use the media to sow a seed of discord within our ranks," said the PDP statement.

The ruling party said media reports had been awash with unfounded stories of sharp divisions within the leadership of PDP.

The party commended Jonathan for what it described as his statesmanly disposition, adding that it is united and focused.

"This ploy, just like many before it will also fail as the leadership of the party is firmly resolved to protect and preserve the institution of the Presidency which has remained stable under the able direction of the Vice-President," the PDP said.

The party reiterated its position that there is no vacuum in Aso Rock.

Meanwhile, opposition political parties under the aegis of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) have wade in.

"All Nigerians need from Mr. Vice-President is the political will to pull through as those whom he had identified as people whose focus is to cause disharmony and disunity are not going to let go. As the Americans will say, he has pulled the trigger and must follow through, otherwise he will pay for it," said CNPP in a statement by its spokesman, Osita Okechukwu.

"For the avoidance of doubt, it must be stated that the lesson learnt from the BBC interview is that our dear president is critically ill, frail and at pains to speak; accordingly we pray for his tremendous recovery, while at the same time we have to move on," added the CNPP.

The opposition argued that under the prevailing circumstance, section 145 of the constitution, without prejudice to the Justice Dan Abutu's judgment, remained the solution.

They said Jonathan "must muster the necessary political will and rely on the doctrine of consequence; which states clearly that power vacuum must not be indefinite but shall be filled by the next in line".