Pro-Lawan APC senators tackle Saraki at senate

There was mild drama at the senate on Wednesday, as All Progressives Congress (APC) senators sympathetic to the failed senate presidency bid of Ahmed Lawan (Yobe north) threw shots at Bukola Saraki, senate president, with “embarrassing” points of order.

The first pro-Lawan APC senator‎ to take the shot was Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos east).

Standing on Order 15 (matters of privilege) of the senate standing orders, Ashafa asked the senate president to read a letter purportedly sent to him by John Oyegun‎, national chairman of APC, regarding the nomination of principal officers of the senate on the floor of the chamber.

Oyegun had reportedly sent a letter nominating Lawan as senate leader, George Akume (Benue) as deputy senate leader and Olusola Adeyeye as chief whip to Saraki.

But at a caucus meeting on Tuesday, Saraki had allegedly discarded the letter, directing APC senators to dissolve into zones and nominate their own principal officers.

Saraki’s position was said to have resulted in an open confrontation between APC senators in favour of the party’s decision and those against it.

The tension, which was generated at the caucus meeting, was palpable at the chamber on Wednesday.

Reacting to the point of order raised by Ashafa, another APC senator, Bala Na’Allah (Kebbi south), argued that the matter was a party affair, and as such “cannot stand”.

Saraki‎ thereafter ruled Ashafa out of order after noting the issue he raised.

Kabir Marafa, another pro-Lawan APC senator, was next, questioning the process through which Saraki emerged senate president on June 9, and the current standing orders of the senate.

Marafa argued that he was unaware of any amendment to‎ the 2011 standing orders of the senate, and was surprised to see the 2015 publication of the document with amendments.

He barked out “shut up” repeatedly to his colleagues who tried to stop him from speaking.

Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, responded to Marafa’s order by telling him that he had only been in the senate for four years, “while some of us have been here for 12 years”.

Ekweremadu explained that the 2011 standing orders of the senate ended with the seventh senate, adding that the document was termly updated to reflect‎ the new senate regime.