By Olusegun Emmanuel, Abuja.
But for the timely intervention of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the Senate plenary Thursday, temper would have given way for brawl among senators over the just concluded Ekiti governorship election.
The trouble began when the Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba, stood up to commend INEC for a job well done on Ekiti governorship election which was conducted on June 21 and won by candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
Senator Uba who relied on Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order, commended the electoral body for conducting free and fair election in Ekiti, describing the election as the most credible in the country.
The Chairman had maintained that the conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election by the INEC was a departure from previous exercises in the country that were marred by irregularities, adding that there was tremendous improvement.
He also applauded the people and government of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the election that led to the incumbent Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, losing to a former governor of the state, Ayo Fayose of the, PDP.
He further commended the security agencies for ensuring adequate security during and after the election and urged all the relevant stakeholders that contributed to the success of the polls to carry on with the same spirit in subsequent elections.
Infuriated by Uba’s comment on the Ekiti Election, Senator Babafemi Ojudu who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressive Congress APC, while also relying on the same Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order called the INEC Committee chairman to order.
He alleged that Senator Uba’s younger brother, Chris Uba was one of those who led the police to cause havoc during the exercise in the state.
In his words, “My colleague (Andy Uba) had already read Order 43, I don’t need to repeat it. I will like to commend the governor-elect of Ekiti state and my governor for accepting the result of the election.
“But I want to say here Mr. President that my colleague who stood here to talk, his younger brother Chris Uba led police to the hotel and smashed all the doors of the hotel…:
He was however, disrupted by the PDP Senators who shouted at him to sit down. Senators Philip Aduda representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West were among the PDP senators that faulted against Senator Ojudu.
But as temper rose among the senators during the rowdy session which lasted for about five minutes , Deputy Senate President calmed down fray nerves by first allowing Ojudu to read order 43 upon which he raised his point of order to counter Andy Uba.
However, he was later ruled him out of order on the grounds that the Order 43 Ojudu read, prohibits discussion of any controversial issue on the floor of the a Senate.
