The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has called on the political leaders in the opposition parties to sheath their swords, after the Supreme Court has, today, October 26, ended the battle for the presidency, and asked them to join the victor, President Bola Tinubu to make Nigeria great again. In a congratulatory message to Tinubu, issued by his spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh, Senator Akpabio described the verdict of the Supreme Court as reflective of the will of the people. The Senate President emphasized the need for the major rivals of the President to sheath their swords of political combat and join hands with the Tinubu administration in the collective goal of making the nation great again. “The elections have been announced by the electoral authorities and confirmed by the courts, and I call on all former political rivals of the president to show good faith by joining hands with the Bola Tinubu administration in its ongoing efforts to take the nation to a higher level.” The Senate President said that he was personally elated that the jurists of the Supreme Court saw through the arguments and even without much technicalities, easily confirmed the victory of Tinubu in the poll. “There is no doubt that victory came at a cost, but Mr President, that makes it even sweeter. I know you have in your years of public service yielded your personal and other comforts for the collective good and what it cost to confirm the victory in the courts should be seen with a similar vista.” Senator Akpabio advised the president not to relent in being a father figure to his former rivals, saying that it is superfluous to remind the president of his well-known big heart. The Senate President gave assurance that the National Assembly would continue to support the Tinubu administration by leveraging its legislative tentacles to raise the level of governance to a higher pedestal. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also reacted to the Supreme Court verdict by emphasizing the importance of unity and collaboration. He encouraged the opposition to take heart, recognizing that this is undeniably, Asiwaju’s time. “Let’s come together for the betterment of our nation, as we embark on this journey of progress under the visionary leadership of President Tinubu.”
The inauguration of the 10th Senate in June was accompanied by the usual political drama that opened new dispensations at the National Assembly. Many observers took the keenly contested leadership elections in the chamber as further signals that Nigeria is a thriving democracy. The new leadership of the Senate under Godswill Obot Akpabio, like the pilot of an aircraft taking off in rough weathers, encountered a slight turbulence before getting to cruising altitude. But it has since stabilized and the 10th Senate is well into its four-year journey. At least that was the common view until a few weeks back when media report painted a disturbing picture. However, as l ponder happenings in the Senate since the said media report, the global hit by one of America’s best-selling R&B singers, Robert Sylvester Kelly, popularly known as R. Kelly, flashes through my mind: The Storm is Over Now! The syndicated media report purporting a move to change the three months old leadership of the Senate indicated that the aircraft had run into a storm. The report left many concerned readers wondering: how could Distinguished Senators, who are almost all senior citizens with vast political and leadership experiences, be contemplating the removal of a Senate President who has barely taken his seat? But like the refrain in R. Kelly’s song says, the storm is over now. That “storm”, to be sure, was not strange. The outcome of the elections of the presiding officers had indicated that there were two major tendencies in the upper chamber. But the thinking was that the tendencies had fused in response to the olive branch magnanimously waved by Akpabio immediately he took his seat as the new President of the Senate. But some people often want to see drama and tension in the Legislature. Otherwise, the chamber is boring for such people. For this reason there are always actors available to create situations or imaginary situations of “crisis” for the media to amplify. They do this mainly to secure concessions for themselves. So it is purely a selfish act. At the beginning, the 10th Senate had attended to some national issues requiring urgent attention. Immediately after, the Senate adjourned and members proceeded on their annual vacation as planned in their calendar. The Senators were on the vacation when the news broke of the alleged plot to remove Akpabio. Discerning Nigerians could see that the report was a ruse. But some people fell for it. Thus, the rumour, even though baseless, created apprehension in the light of the nature of politics at the National Assembly. It was a quick reminder of the “banana peel” syndrome in the Nigerian Parliament when its leadership at some point almost became a game of musical chairs. In the midst of this apprehension, Senator Elisha Abbo who until 16th October, 2023 represented Adamawa North Senatorial District, granted a media interview which further fuelled suspicions that he probably knew about the purported plot to remove Akpabio because, rightly or wrongly, he was believed to be mouthpiece of a group within the chamber. He alleged lopsidedness in the allocation of leadership of Senate standing committees. So when the Senate resumed plenary on 26th September, 2023, some people expected a rowdy session in the chamber. But Akpabio, an experienced politician well-versed in the politics of the National Assembly, was unruffled. As soon as the plenary began, he called for an executive session. When the Senators rose from the exclusive meeting, the atmosphere had become calm. Whatever storm there was, was over. That development did not surprise close observers of the chamber in recent times. The Senate is populated by senior citizens who highly value systemic order and stability. That is why Senators often act as members of the same family despite their different party affiliations. However the following week, precisely on Tuesday 3rd October, 2023, the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, in a motion during the plenary, proposed an amendment to the standing orders of the Senate “to clearly state that a Senator vying for the office of the President of the Senate or Deputy President of the Senate must have served at least one term in the Senate as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The motion passed and now effectively excludes first timers at the Senate from vying for the posts of presiding officers. Some people see the development as a barrier expediently erected against political adventurism in the Senate. But many also see it as a necessary amendment to ensure stability in the upper chamber and also make experience in the workings of the Senate a priority in leadership selection in the chamber. Before the amendment was passed by a voice vote, Senator Bamidele reminded his Distinguished colleagues that the idea is in line with what is obtainable at the House of Representatives. The Senate Leader also proposed an amendment to create nine more Standing Committees of the Senate. According to Senator Bamidele, this addition is “in response to emerging development that will enhance rules of procedures for a sound legislative practice.” Beyond the official explanation for the newly created committees, some consider the step a strategy to offer more ranking lawmakers the chairmanship of committees. This is in a bid to strengthen bond within the chamber so that the receded “storm” does not rise again. Some keen observers are also suggesting to the Senate to take a step further by amending its standing orders on the mode of election of its Presiding Officers. They want the Senate to adopt the Open Ballot system. At the moment, the Senate rule provides for secret ballot, unlike the open ballot mode in use at the House of Representatives. Leading that advocacy is a pro-democracy group, the Citizen Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria(CNPDN). The argument is that the last exercise polarised the Senate into two major tendencies, which was not the case in the House of Representatives despite the fact that contests for the positions were keen in both Chambers. Maybe these tendencies in the Senate would have fizzled out at the point of voting like it happened at the House of Representatives had the ballot been open. Senator Elisha Abbo’s comment on Arise Television on 17th October, 2023 however confirmed what most people had been saying that the purported impeachment plot was a ruse. Senator Abbo said, a day after the Court of Appeal annulled his election for a second term in the Senate: “I want to say that there was no plan to impeach the Senate President at any time, who himself was a product of the popular vote of confidence by us (his colleagues). I support and respect Senator Godswill Akpabio to deliver on the core mandate of the Nigerian people. I am praying for God to give him wisdom because the Senate is a chamber of equals and I am praying for wisdom for him to know how to manage his colleagues because I don’t want him to fail.” In the TV interview, Senator Abbo recanted on his earlier accusation that the Senate President was responsible for his electoral travail in court Similarly on Tuesday 17th October, the media, with screaming headlines, wrongly projected another storm in the Senate Chamber. They reported that the Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume “stormed” out of the plenary in protest against the Senate President, who had ruled Ndume out of Order when he raised Point of Order during the proceedings. It was not only the media that got it wrong, Ndume’s walking out of the chamber was too sudden that even some Senators misread the development. But the Borno South Senator left the chamber for a different purpose, as he later explained. “I made a point and the Senate President ruled me out of order, then I left because you know, it was close to 1:30 pm and whatever business we are doing, I normally go to pray,” Senator Ndume told BBC reporter, Hausa service. “The press misinterpreted it and the Senate President misinterpreted it, that I got annoyed and left. When I came to the office, they said the Senate was in executive session, that I should come because we said we should have executive session. I said let me go to the executive session briefly because I have already performed ablution and continued to the Mosque.” That media report created another apprehension but it was quickly managed. The Senate President himself later told State House reporters that there is no cause for alarm. “The Parliament is like that. Sometimes we disagree to agree. But the major thing is that we are all working in one accord. There is no problem at all. Even if some people disagree on some of the happenings in the senate, still, it is only the majority decision that prevails. “Parliament is like that. But we will never get to a point of throwing chairs. We will never get to that point. The Senate is too mature, full of matured people, so, if we have a disagreement, we immediately go into a closed session, resolve it and come out smiling,” Akpabio said. ***Awoniyi, media aide to Senate President, wrote in from Abuja.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has advised political actors in the legal battle for the presidency to sheet their swords after the eight months fight that has just ended in the Supreme Court. Reacting to the ruling of the highest court in the land on the appeal by the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, against the victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Buhari described the ruling of the Supreme Court as a welcome relief to him and to a majority of the citizens. “Now that we have arrived at the last bus stop, after a tortuous 8-months of expensive legal journey, the nation deserves a break. “The opposition has fought a good fight. Having now exhausted their rights as constitutionally allowed, they should take the hand of fellowship extended by the Tinubu/Shettima APC government. “Let them allow the government to run their administration and the people to have the benefit of the promises the All Progressives Congress, APC made. The former President repeated what he said on the earlier 6th September verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court which affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory that the welcome decision is “a reaffirmation of the will of the majority of the people against the determined will of a hard-fighting minority.” The former President however, expressed concern over low voting percentage all over the country, especially in urban areas, saying that this should change given the acceptance and vibrancy of democracy in Nigeria. In a statement today, issued by his spokesman while in office, Malam Garba Shehu, the former President wished the President and his team a successful term in office.
President Bola Tinubu has commended the Nigerian Judiciary for standing up tall and holding its head high above water inspite of open pressure and intimidation from some political actors. The President, in his reaction to the final verdict by the Supreme Court today, October 26, on the February Presidential election, which he won on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said: “despite the fusillade of pressure and attempts at intimidation by some political actors, the judiciary demonstrated its unequivocal commitment to upholding the rule of law for the upliftment and defense of humanity.” Read the full text of the President’s statement below, on the Supreme Court judgement: I welcome the verdict of the Justice John I. Okoro-led Panel of the Supreme Court on the Presidential Election petitions filed by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, challenging the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. The court has done justice to all issues put up for consideration in the petitions on the merits of the law, without fear or favour. There is no doubt, with the profound judgment of today, that our electoral jurisprudence and constitutional democracy are further consolidated and embedded more indelibly in our national identity because of the diligence and undaunted professionalism of the Honourable Justices who presided over the matter. While the verdict of today has laid to rest the agitating discourse over who truly won the 2023 Presidential election and met the constitutional requirements as laid out by law, I want to reiterate that my faith in our nation’s judiciary has never been shaken, not even for a moment, because I know that our hallowed courts of law will not fail to administer justice to all Nigerians in all matters and at all times. Despite the fusillade of pressure and attempts at intimidation by some political actors, the judiciary demonstrated its unequivocal commitment to upholding the rule of law for the upliftment and defense of humanity. It was affirmed once more today, that my party, the governing All Progressives’ Congress, had freely and fairly won the popular mandate of Nigerians, which has since given rise to my leadership of this great nation at a tumultuous period of unprecedented reforms in our history as a nation. With deep gratitude to God Almighty, I solemnly and humbly accept today’s judicial victory with an intense sense of responsibility and a burning desire to meet the great challenges confronting our people. The victory of today has further energised and strengthened my commitment to continue to serve all Nigerians of all political persuasions, tribes, and faiths, with honour and total respect for the diverse opinions and uniting values of our citizens. Our Renewed Hope agenda for a greater and prosperous Nigeria has further gained momentum and I will continue to work from morning to night, every single day, to build a country that meets our collective yearnings and aspirations. We are all members of one household, and this moment demands that we continue to work and build our country together. The strength of our diversity and the great citizenship that binds us must now compel us forward in directing the energy of our people towards building a virile, stronger, united, and more prosperous country. In the days and months ahead, I trust that the spirit of patriotism will be elevated into supporting our administration to improve the living conditions of Nigerians. I am prepared to welcome the contributions of all Nigerians to foster and strengthen our collective progress. I send my immense gratitude to all Nigerians for the mandate to serve our country. I promise again to meet and exceed your expectations in service delivery and good governance, working with my team and trusting in the grace of God. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Bola Ahmed Tinubu President and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria October 26, 2023
The Supreme Court of Nigeria, in dismissing all the grounds presented by both the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi to disqualify President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has made none sense of one of the Atiku’s submission. During the ruling today , October 26, one of the seven judges, Justice Okoro declared: “It runs foul of the Electoral Act 2022 which says that `after the expiration of the time for presenting election petition, no amendment shall be made’”. The judge also held that the appellants (Atiku and PDP) “were tardy and not diligent enough” to obtain the records from CSU considering that they had one year since President Bola Tinubu submitted his nomination form to INEC. The Supreme Court finally affirmed the election of Tinubu as the duly elected President of Nigeria at the February 25, 2023 presidential election in the country. The seven-member panel of the Court, led by Justice John Okoro, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the appeals of the Atiku and Peter Obi as lacking merit. The apex court rejected the application of Atiku to file fresh evidence in his case against Tinubu over the Chicago State University (CSU) certificate. The Court upheld the decision of the tribunal on the 25 percent vote cast in the Federal Capital Territory, striking out offensive paragraphs of a witness statement after examining the credibility of witnesses called during the hearing the Tribunal. The duo of Atiku and Obi, in their separate prayers to the apex court, had challenged the verdict of the Presidential Election Petitions Court, sitting in Abuja, which affirmed Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential poll. The five-man panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani not only dismissed the consolidated petitions of the PDP, the APM, and the LP, but also clearly affirmed the victory of Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, in the poll. Justice Tsammani said: “This petition accordingly lacks merit. I affirm the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties are to bear their cost.”
1. Rejected Atiku Abubakar’s Application To Introduce Fresh Evidences. 2- Dismissed Atiku Abubakar’s Petition Against The IREV Portal. 3- Dismissed Atiku Abubakar’s 25% In FCT Case. 4- No Need For 25% In Abuja Says The Supreme Court. 5- The Irev Portal Is Not A Collation Systems. 6- Certificate Forgery Against President Tinubu Not Proven By Atiku Abubakar. 7- Atiku Abubakar Didn’t Establish Fraud Case Against President Tinubu 8- President Tinubu Truly Won The Presidential Election
9- Dismissed All Atiku Abubakar’s Petitions 10- Upheld The Victory Of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Appeal Is Hereby Dismissed, And I Affirm That Bola Ahmed Tinubu Is The Duly Elected President of Nigeria.
The Supreme Court has upheld the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court that despite the failure of President Bola Tinubu to secure 25 percent of the vote cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he still won the election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Supreme Court today, October 26, struk out the appeal by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi. They had appealed that President Tinubu could not have won the election because he failed to secure 25% in FCT. Details later…
“Let me advise all of us to be careful about politicians who are so desperate to get power. “Be careful of politicians who can do anything just because of power. It’s not everything you read in social media that is correct. Try and ask questions.” These were the words of caution by the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike, when he had separate audience with the leaders of both Muslims and Christians in his office yesterday, October 25. Wike advised the religious leaders to be wary of the divisive antics of some politicians who are bent on using religion to create disharmony in the country in order to promote their political ambitions.
The Minister said that some politicians who lost in the last elections have resorted to spreading hate on the social media and urged religious leaders to be circumspect about whatever message they read and preach to their congregation. Speaking against the backdrop of recent false information on social media regarding the National Mosque, Wike called on the public to always verify information and seek clarification from the Administration, especially on policies and actions of government. “I’m seated here as the Minister of FCT. If there is anything you hear that the FCT is trying to do, do not hesitate to also ask if it is correct so that we will be able to defend the government and defend ourselves.” He asked religious leaders to be very careful to avoid falling into the trap of those who might want to use them to spread hate and religious mistrust in the country, urging them to rather pray for the success of the government in power. “When a leader has emerged, whether you like it or not, a leader has emerged. So, when a leader has emerged, leave your own personal views and pray for him because if he fails, the country has failed. “Pray for him so that he will succeed. When he succeeds, the country will succeed.” The minister, who stressed that all his actions are guided by national interest and would therefore not be distracted by unfounded social media attacks, pledged commitment of the FCT Administration for the continuous maintenance of the National Christian Center and Abuja National Mosque which have been declared as national monuments. On the current economic challenges in the country, the Minister said that difficult decisions had to be made by the government to correct the wrongs of the past and called for patience and understanding from members of the public. Speaking earlier, the President of CAN, Most Reverend Daniel Okoh, congratulated the FCT Minister on his appointment and expressed confidence that he would bring positive transformations in the FCT. He declared the support of the association for the success of the Wike-led FCT Administration. He assured that the CAN would not only work for Christian unity but also for the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians, regardless of their religion, or ethnic background. On his part, the Chairman, Committee of the League of Imams Initiative, Imam Tajudeen Adigun explained that the organization was formed to foster the unity of the Muslim Umah and peaceful coexistence between various Islamic sects and with members of other faiths across the country. He said that the organization, in its 19 years of existence, has enjoyed utmost respect and cordial working relationship with various levels of government, including the security agencies and traditional rulers Describing Wike as a true Nigerian, Imam Adigun pledged the readiness of the League of Imams to work with him and will continue to disregard disinformation designed to cause disharmony in the society.
Pastor Isaac Oyedepo, the second son of the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, has dumped the Church to form his own church. Isaac is said to be planning to begin a new ministry independent of the Living Faith Church. Before his resignation, he was the national youth pastor of the Youth Alive Fellowship (YAF), the youth arm of his father’s church. Church Gist, a media platform owned by Pastor Leke Beecroft, one of the pastoral assistants at the church’s headquarters in Ota, reported the resignation of Pastor Isaac yesterday, October 24. Isaac was announced as the national youth pastor of YAF in September this year, taking over from Pastor David Nwabueze who was transferred to Nasarawa State. He was ordained as Living Faith Church pastor by American preacher Kenneth Copeland in May 2007. In a recent interview, he said that his purpose in life was “to reclaim a generation and to ensure that this generation sees the fire God’s revival in our generation.” Isaac pastored the Winners Chapel International in South Africa; Maryland, United States and Lokogoma, Abuja before he was redeployed to the headquarters in Ota, Ogun State. He graduated from Oral Roberts University, US, while his elder brother David Oyedepo Junior is the resident pastor of the church’s headquarters known as Faith Tabernacle. He is married to Ayomitide and they are blessed with children. Source: Qed.ng.com
Commander of A/0 SWAT, in the Plateau State Police Command, Superintendent Nahun Gwadi Eli, has been found dead in his hotel room in Jos, Plateau State. He was found dead and lying on the floor beside his bed after concerned officers broke into his hotel room. Doctors have ruled out foul play in Eli’s death. According to sources, his men became worried after repeatedly calling his phone line, but it repeatedly rang out. This led some of the policemen to head to his hotel room, where they also knocked countless times, but got no response. This made them force the hotel room door open. The death of the SP Eli has been ruled as sudden and unnatural. A police source said: “On 23rd of October, at about 5:30pm, information was received from A/0 SWAT Plateau State Command that they have not seen nor heard from their commander, SP Nahum Gwadi Eli. “He didn’t report to duty and his phone was ringing, but no response. “They decided to visit his hotel room, along old Airport Road, and when they got there, they knocked at the door and there was no response. “They called the management of the hotel and forced the door open. “He was found lying on the ground beside the bed. “The family has been contacted and the scene of the crime was visited by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Anglo-Jos. “A Police Medical doctor was called upon and photographs were taken. “The body was removed to Plateau Specialist Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. “The corpse was deposited at the same hospital mortuary for autopsy. “No foul play suspected yet.” Source: The Eagle Online.
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The Minister said that some politicians who lost in the last elections have resorted to spreading hate on the social media and urged religious leaders to be circumspect about whatever message they read and preach to their congregation.
The Storm Is Over For 10th Senate, By Ola Awoniyi
The inauguration of the 10th Senate in June was accompanied by the usual political drama that opened new dispensations at the National Assembly. Many observers took the keenly contested leadership elections in the chamber as further signals that Nigeria is a thriving democracy. The new leadership of the Senate under Godswill Obot Akpabio, like the pilot of an aircraft taking off in rough weathers, encountered a slight turbulence before getting to cruising altitude. But it has since stabilized and the 10th Senate is well into its four-year journey.
At least that was the common view until a few weeks back when media report painted a disturbing picture.
However, as l ponder happenings in the Senate since the said media report, the global hit by one of America’s best-selling R&B singers, Robert Sylvester Kelly, popularly known as R. Kelly, flashes through my mind: The Storm is Over Now!
The syndicated media report purporting a move to change the three months old leadership of the Senate indicated that the aircraft had run into a storm. The report left many concerned readers wondering: how could Distinguished Senators, who are almost all senior citizens with vast political and leadership experiences, be contemplating the removal of a Senate President who has barely taken his seat? But like the refrain in R. Kelly’s song says, the storm is over now.
That “storm”, to be sure, was not strange. The outcome of the elections of the presiding officers had indicated that there were two major tendencies in the upper chamber. But the thinking was that the tendencies had fused in response to the olive branch magnanimously waved by Akpabio immediately he took his seat as the new President of the Senate.
But some people often want to see drama and tension in the Legislature. Otherwise, the chamber is boring for such people. For this reason there are always actors available to create situations or imaginary situations of “crisis” for the media to amplify. They do this mainly to secure concessions for themselves. So it is purely a selfish act.
At the beginning, the 10th Senate had attended to some national issues requiring urgent attention. Immediately after, the Senate adjourned and members proceeded on their annual vacation as planned in their calendar. The Senators were on the vacation when the news broke of the alleged plot to remove Akpabio.
Discerning Nigerians could see that the report was a ruse. But some people fell for it. Thus, the rumour, even though baseless, created apprehension in the light of the nature of politics at the National Assembly. It was a quick reminder of the “banana peel” syndrome in the Nigerian Parliament when its leadership at some point almost became a game of musical chairs.
In the midst of this apprehension, Senator Elisha Abbo who until 16th October, 2023 represented Adamawa North Senatorial District, granted a media interview which further fuelled suspicions that he probably knew about the purported plot to remove Akpabio because, rightly or wrongly, he was believed to be mouthpiece of a group within the chamber. He alleged lopsidedness in the allocation of leadership of Senate standing committees.
So when the Senate resumed plenary on 26th September, 2023, some people expected a rowdy session in the chamber. But Akpabio, an experienced politician well-versed in the politics of the National Assembly, was unruffled.
As soon as the plenary began, he called for an executive session. When the Senators rose from the exclusive meeting, the atmosphere had become calm. Whatever storm there was, was over.
That development did not surprise close observers of the chamber in recent times. The Senate is populated by senior citizens who highly value systemic order and stability. That is why Senators often act as members of the same family despite their different party affiliations.
However the following week, precisely on Tuesday 3rd October, 2023, the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, in a motion during the plenary, proposed an amendment to the standing orders of the Senate “to clearly state that a Senator vying for the office of the President of the Senate or Deputy President of the Senate must have served at least one term in the Senate as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The motion passed and now effectively excludes first timers at the Senate from vying for the posts of presiding officers.
Some people see the development as a barrier expediently erected against political adventurism in the Senate. But many also see it as a necessary amendment to ensure stability in the upper chamber and also make experience in the workings of the Senate a priority in leadership selection in the chamber. Before the amendment was passed by a voice vote, Senator Bamidele reminded his Distinguished colleagues that the idea is in line with what is obtainable at the House of Representatives.
The Senate Leader also proposed an amendment to create nine more Standing Committees of the Senate. According to Senator Bamidele, this addition is “in response to emerging development that will enhance rules of procedures for a sound legislative practice.”
Beyond the official explanation for the newly created committees, some consider the step a strategy to offer more ranking lawmakers the chairmanship of committees. This is in a bid to strengthen bond within the chamber so that the receded “storm” does not rise again.
Some keen observers are also suggesting to the Senate to take a step further by amending its standing orders on the mode of election of its Presiding Officers. They want the Senate to adopt the Open Ballot system.
At the moment, the Senate rule provides for secret ballot, unlike the open ballot mode in use at the House of Representatives. Leading that advocacy is a pro-democracy group, the Citizen Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria(CNPDN). The argument is that the last exercise polarised the Senate into two major tendencies, which was not the case in the House of Representatives despite the fact that contests for the positions were keen in both Chambers.
Maybe these tendencies in the Senate would have fizzled out at the point of voting like it happened at the House of Representatives had the ballot been open.
Senator Elisha Abbo’s comment on Arise Television on 17th October, 2023 however confirmed what most people had been saying that the purported impeachment plot was a ruse. Senator Abbo said, a day after the Court of Appeal annulled his election for a second term in the Senate: “I want to say that there was no plan to impeach the Senate President at any time, who himself was a product of the popular vote of confidence by us (his colleagues). I support and respect Senator Godswill Akpabio to deliver on the core mandate of the Nigerian people. I am praying for God to give him wisdom because the Senate is a chamber of equals and I am praying for wisdom for him to know how to manage his colleagues because I don’t want him to fail.”
In the TV interview, Senator Abbo recanted on his earlier accusation that the Senate President was responsible for his electoral travail in court
Similarly on Tuesday 17th October, the media, with screaming headlines, wrongly projected another storm in the Senate Chamber. They reported that the Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume “stormed” out of the plenary in protest against the Senate President, who had ruled Ndume out of Order when he raised Point of Order during the proceedings. It was not only the media that got it wrong, Ndume’s walking out of the chamber was too sudden that even some Senators misread the development. But the Borno South Senator left the chamber for a different purpose, as he later explained.
“I made a point and the Senate President ruled me out of order, then I left because you know, it was close to 1:30 pm and whatever business we are doing, I normally go to pray,” Senator Ndume told BBC reporter, Hausa service.
“The press misinterpreted it and the Senate President misinterpreted it, that I got annoyed and left. When I came to the office, they said the Senate was in executive session, that I should come because we said we should have executive session. I said let me go to the executive session briefly because I have already performed ablution and continued to the Mosque.”
That media report created another apprehension but it was quickly managed. The Senate President himself later told State House reporters that there is no cause for alarm.
“The Parliament is like that. Sometimes we disagree to agree. But the major thing is that we are all working in one accord. There is no problem at all. Even if some people disagree on some of the happenings in the senate, still, it is only the majority decision that prevails.
“Parliament is like that. But we will never get to a point of throwing chairs. We will never get to that point. The Senate is too mature, full of matured people, so, if we have a disagreement, we immediately go into a closed session, resolve it and come out smiling,” Akpabio said.
***Awoniyi, media aide to Senate President, wrote in from Abuja.