The crisis sparked by the election of National Assembly officials was still smouldering yesterday.
President Muhammadu Buhari has invited Senator Ahmed Lawan’s Unity Forum, which is contesting the election
of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President , for a meeting today.
“It is all to save the party from being factionalised,” an All Progressives Congress (APC) source said.
The meeting is expected to resolve the crisis, which deepened yesterday as:
•the APC National Working Committee called off a proposed visit by Senator Saraki; and
•some members of the Senate discovered that the chamber breached its rules in electing Deputy Senate President
Ike Ekweremadu.
It was learnt that instead of using division as contained in Rule 3 (1) (e)(i, ii, iii) and (f), the Senate opted for an
Open Secret Ballot system, which is strange to the chamber.
For violating its rules, the Senate may ask Ekweremadu to step aside and conduct election into the Office of the
Deputy President of the Senate, The Nation learnt.
But another source at the Senate said there was no infraction of the rule.
He said the clerk has the prerogative to conduct the election of principal officers in the manner he deems fit.
Rule 3 (1) (e) (i, ii, iii) and (f), reads: “When only two Senators-elect are nominated and seconded as President of
the Senate, the election shall be conducted as follows:
(i) the Senate shall divide with the proposers and seconders as tellers.
(ii) Voting shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-the-Table using the Division List of the Senate with the Tellers in
attendance. The Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the division to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
(iii) the Clerk shall then declare the senator-elect who has received the greater number of votes elected as
President of Senate.
“(f) When more than two senators-elect are nominated and seconded as President of the Senate, the division
shall be conducted in the manner prescribed in Section (e) and the Senator-elect who has received a majority of
votes shall be the President of the Senate.”
Also, Rule 3(4) says: “The procedure for the election of the Deputy President of the Senate shall be the same as
that of the President of the Senate.”
A high-ranking Senator, who spoke in confidence, said: “By every definition of the rules of the Senate, Ekweremadu
was not properly elected. He may need to step aside and allow for a fresh election into that office.
“The alternative is to leave the court to decide his fate. This might lead to many litigations which can hinder the
activities of the Senate.
“This is the fresh challenge at hand. They claimed that the Seventh Senate amended the rules to allow for Open
Secret Ballot but there is no record to show for it. We cannot accept any under-the-table amendment of rules for
the sake of political exigency.”
It was revealed that there might be a burden on the President of the Senate to dump Ekweremadu for an APC
candidate.
“I think once Ekweremadu steps aside, he will have to recontest for the post with an APC candidate in a united
APC Senate.”
“This will pose a challenge to the alliance between Saraki and the South-East/ South-South caucus. This is going
to be an acid test for Saraki to prove that he is still a loyal member of APC or an ally of PDP,” the source added.
Buhari, said another source, will focus on a likely reconciliation of all parties and how to keep the APC in the
Senate united.
“I think a win-win formula might be designed by the Presidency to save the party from any further embarrassment.
You know, there are still some principal officers to be elected for the Senate.
“The development may lead to an enlarged session of the APC caucus in the Senate with the President and the
leadership of the party,” he said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media.
But the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress yesterday called off a proposed courtesy
call by the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Although the party initially fixed the courtesy call by Saraki for 1pm, the session was abruptly cancelled because
“it is inconsistent with the APC’s position on the outcome of the election into the Office of the Senate President”.
“There was no way we can allow Saraki to pay courtesy call on APC leadership, which had rejected his victory as
not in line with the wish of the party. If the party resolves the issue at hand, it can formally welcome Saraki.”
But the National Working Committee of APC threw its doors open to the Unity Forum of Sen. Ahmed Lawan to
hear “its side of the election for Senate presidency and the aftermath.”
The party, however, barred members of the Unity Forum from speaking with the press on the meeting.”

http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/news/419030-buhari-intervenes-in-senate-dispute-to-save-apc’s-unity.html

Good move....if he doesn't mediate btw them, they will give him a tough time to achieve a lot of tins...

Can we move on? The party shldnt have left the lawmakers to democratically choose their leadership and not imposing anyone. All this tension is selfish and petty

REALLY?

GEJ till 2029

fashoo2010:
Good move....if he doesn't mediate btw them, they will give him a tough time to achieve a lot of tins...

You r right

Gud for him, why did he...? He wud av wait for me to intervene.... Nonsense...!!!

kodded:
#BABA419











is this the change we seek ?

How does the post aligned with this ur question now? Or u just want to deny urself the privilege of reasoning well?

Buhari should stop forming bad guys to his party leaders, without them he can't do jack.

It is so important not to neglect the wish of the party and it is also important not to neglect the wish of the people.

cyril83:

Buhari should stop forming bad guys to his party leaders, without them he can't do jack.

It is so important not to neglect the wish of the party and it is also important not to neglect the wish of the people.

you're so on point

sweetorgasm:
GEJ till 2029

shm

sweetorgasm:
GEJ till 2029

shm

If truly Ekeremadu steps aside, dat means Saraki used PDP

seankay:
If truly Ekeremadu steps aside, dat means Saraki used PDP

exactly..... he used both APC and PDP

So, if Ekweremadu is removed, APC will uphold Saraki's election
Hypo ..

fashoo2010:
Good move....if he doesn't mediate btw them, they will give him a tough time to achieve a lot of tins...

The right move to be honest, but the tough time for him and the party is underway



Shey my signature makes sense die... aloba!!!

He jst ve to

dunkem21:
So, if Ekweremadu is removed, APC will uphold Saraki's election

Hypo ..

let's wait calmly for the next drama

dunkem21:
So, if Ekweremadu is removed, APC will uphold Saraki's election

Hypo ..

lets wait calmly for the next drama

dunkem21:
So, if Ekweremadu is removed, APC will uphold Saraki's election

Hypo ..

let's wait calmly for the next drama

That is good for our democracy.

Continue to dream on fools. Ekweremadu would indeed step aside in 2019.Bunch of fools.Make una go commot am make we see

chukwudi44:
Continue to dream on fools. Ekweremadu would indeed step aside in 2019.Bunch of fools.Make una go commot am make we see

wait for the next drama

This is seriously serious

Buhari is such a disappointment...he fumbled on

**Osinbade
**independent Nigeria electoral commission
**west Germany
**senate&speaker to pdp faction
Buhari needs a viable SA nd ministers or else......

mctifey:


wait for the next drama

ode which yeye drama? You boasted that your local champion jagaban was going to prevail on Tuesday only for him to be disgraced like samuel peter in both houses!! Unless he [i]dobale [/i]no candidate sponsored by him will be screened by the NASS

chukwudi44:


ode which yeye drama? You boasted that your local champion jagaban was going to prevail on Tuesday only for him to be disgraced like samuel peter in both houses!! Unless he [i]dobale [/i]no candidate sponsored by him will be screened by the NASS

mumu and who told you I supported tinubu's move...
read wella before posting shit..