Senate throws out APC’s nominations for Majority Leader, others

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Bukola Saraki

The Senate yesterday rejected attempts to compel it to accept and adopt all nominations made and sent to it by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on top positions in the upper legislative chamber.

It ruled that the letter from the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, in which the party nominated four persons to occupy the remaining four top leadership positions ran foul of its rule and therefore could not be read by the President of the Senate, let alone being adopted. It equally adopted its 2015 Standing ‎Rule and declared all amendments therein as valid.

The decisions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos), which sought to compel the Senate President Bukola Saraki to recognise and read Odigie-Oyegun’s letter.

The letter nominated Ahmed Lawal for the position of Senate Majority Leader; George Akume for Deputy Majority Leader; Olusola Adeyeye as Chief Whip and Abu Ibrahim as Deputy Whip. Citing rule 28(1) of the Senate Standing Order, Gbenga had argued that Odigie-Oyegun’s letter was proper because, according to him, principal officers should be nominated by the Majority.

Also yesterday, the Senate ‎ratified the amendment made to its standing rule after initial disagreements among members. Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara) had drawn the attention of senators to what he called serious breach of the Senate Rule through illegal amendment of the Rule.

He said that the Eighth Senate had been operating an amended version of the 2011 rule called “Rule 2015” without a valid amendment process as dictated by the Rules.

According to Marafa, there was never a time the Seventh Senate amended the rule to include secret balloting as contained in the 2015 version.

Marafa said: “Mr. President, like I said, the events as we witnessed on the 9th of June, especially as it regards the election of the Deputy Senate President were null and void because they were not in consonance with the provisions of the Standing Orders of this Senate. And if you say we are going to use the Senate Standing Orders of 2015, then we need explanation as to who and who changed our Senate Rules without recourse to Order 110.”

In a swift response, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu explained how the 2015 rule came into being. He said: “I would like to offer explanation to my friend, Senator Marafa. He’s just four years old in this Senate. Some of us have been here for 12 years.

From 1999 till date, this Senate has come up with its own rules. There was Senate rule of 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and now 2015. The reason is quite simple. If you look at Section 64 of the 1999 Constitution it says that the Senate and House of Representatives shall each stand dissolved at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date of the first sitting of the house.

“So, the implication is that the rule he was referring to ended with the Senate on the 6th of June. That is why we had Senate Rule Book of 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and now 2015. If he’s seeking to amend any Senate rule, he can only amend the existing one which is the one for 2015. So, between now and 2019, this particular rule will govern us and can be amended in the manner he suggested.

In 2019, we are going to have another Senate Rule of 2019. That has been the process and procedure since 1999. And it is based on the provisions of the Constitution.” Saraki, ruling on the matter, said: “Distinguished Senator Marafa raised a Point of Order. And I think there are two issues he raised in his point. One, there’s only one rule book before us.

That is Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended). The second issue you raised about 9th of June where by virtue of our actions, I will refer you again to Order 53 (6) which says that it shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question of which the Senate has come to a conclusion during the current session.

And bringing that matter again goes in contrary to Rule 53 (6). On this note, I will have to unfortunately rule you out of order on that matter.”

The 2015 rule on the election of the Senate president states: “Voting shall be conducted by the clerk at-the-table using division list of the Senate with the tellers in attendance. The Clerk of the Senate shall submit result of the division to the Clerk of the National Assembly.” However, the new Senate rule stated: “‎Voting by secret ballot which shall be concluded by the clerk-at-table using the list of the Senators-elect of the Senate, who shall each be given a ballot paper to cast his vote, with the proposers and seconder as tellers.”


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