Nigeria’s Deputy Senate
President, Ike Ekweremadu on Wednesday faced stiff opposition while presiding
over Wednesday’s plenary over rules of the Senate Chambers.
The first resistance came from
Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central Senatorial district for
allowing Senator Gilbert Nnaji to adopt Tuesday’s motion. Senator Nnaji who
represents Enugu East Senatorial District is of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), a minority party.
Oluremi protested saying that it
was against the Senate rules for the Senate President to allow a Senator of a
minority to move for adoption of motions.
There was background murmur
ostensibly from the APC Senators when Senator Tinubu was explaining how PDP was
still a minority in the Senate.
“Mr President, distinguished
colleagues, with due respect to Senator Gilbert Nnaji, he was not supposed to
move for adoption because he is still a member of a minority party. ”
“I know that issues like this
would come because of political developments in the country recently, but PDP
is a minority here. I respect Nnaji. He is a ranking Senator and he used to be
my neighbour in the 7th Senate”, she said.
Though Ekweremadu managed to calm
nerves, midway into the plenary, Senator Kabir Marafa observed that it was
wrong for the DSP to allow Dino Melaye to stay among the minority.
He believed that Melaye has not
defected officially, stressing that the rule of the Senate was very clear on
the matter.
He, however, maintained that
there was an exemption to Dino sitting in the row of the minority if there were
cogent reasons and permission of the Senate President.
Marafa explained that a bad
precedent was being made, warning that in the future if it happens among the
APC, it should be accepted.
“Mr President, distinguished
colleagues, my younger brother, Dino Melaye is sitting among the minority, but
if it is for any reason, and if this happens otherwise in future, I hope there
should be no complaint.”
The Deputy Senate President, Ike
Ekweremadu is of the Peoples Democratic Party. He presided over Wednesday’s
plenary as the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki is on official assignment to
the United States of America.
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