The National Conference holding in Abuja witnessed another stormy session on Tuesday over debate on voting pattern for the conferees, even as it postponed deliberation on the volatile topic for further consultations among delegates leaders.
Earlier on Monday, the issue of how decision could be reached led to sharp division among the delegates some of who were agitating for two-third majority voting as a reaching decision, while others were opted for three quarter of votes.
The bone of contention was the proposed proceeding and rules, Order 6 rules 4 which states that any questions proposed for decision in the conference shall be determined by consensus and when this is not achievable, by a three-quarter majority of the delegates present and voting.
However, at the resumption of debate today, the issue of voting pattern resurface again as delegate argued that it was would not be easy to get 75 percent of delegates vote.
Chairman of the National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi while speaking on the issue said it is advisable that the matter be stand down for further consultation, warning that the issue of voting pattern is disintegrate the whole house.
Earlier before, the chairman made the submission, Peterside Atedo appealed to the delegates to defer debate on the issue of voting pattern for further consultations among delegates.
The topic generated tension as delegates were agitating to make contribution on the issue during debate. Some of the delegates were over reaching to snatched microphone from one another as some of them were desperate to make their intention known on the issue of voting pattern.
A delegate who could not be identified immediately rose from his in near attack on Chief Gani Adams, another delegate while the discussion was going on, it took the intervention of other to avert an exchange of blows.
Speaking after adjournment, Chief Olusola Obada said that the chairman has done well by deferring the issue of voting pattern in order not to jeopardize the purpose of the National Conference.
Also, Order 9 (7) of the National Conference Procedure Rules which proposed the withdrawal accreditation of Journalists whose reports are considered offensive and unfair by the leadership of the National Conference was deleted from National Conference procedure Rules.
The controversial Rule reads, “The Conference may grant approval to the representative of any media to attend the sitting of the Conference provided that if the media publishes a report of the proceedings which the Conference considers unfair, offensive and not a true reflection of what transpired, such permission may be revoked.”
The decision to delete was sequel to the motion moved by Festus Okoye at the Conference.
