Leader of the decampee senators Sen. Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday made a futile attempt to announce the controversial defection letters to the public when he read out names of his fellow senators in a point of order.
However, he was promptly overruled by the Senate President, Sen. David Mark who insisted the matter was in court.
Five of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) out of 11 senators who earlier expressed their intention to defect to All Progressive Congress (APC) were named by the former Kwara governor before his point of order was turned down.
Although, the Senate President David Mark over ruled the five senators who made their pronouncement known until the conclusion of the case in court.
Trouble started when, Saraki raised point of order, order 14 informing the Senate of their intentions to move from PDP to APC but Senate President ruled the former governor of Kwara state out of order.
After a momentary rancour on the floor, the Minority leader of Senate, Senator Gorge Akume challenged the Senate President that the matter saying the matter had not been handled properly. Akume said by refusing to read the defection letter, Mark had impeded on the right of the senators because to belong to any party of their choice.
Mark who look astonished, explained to Akume that “it is wrong for him to comment on a matter that was before a competent court of law”.
Senators who announced their defections were Abdulahi Adamu, Bukola Saraki , Wilson Ake , Magnus Abe and Aisha Alhassan all raised point of orders to announce their defection to the APC individually.
After Senator Bukola raised point of order, Senator Abdulahi Adamu also raised point of order to signify his intention of joining APC.
Also, Senator Aisha Alhassan, Senator Magnus Abe and Senator Wilson Ake also decleared their intention to join APC.
Briefing newsmen after the sitting, Senator Magnus Abe expressed confidence that the leadership of the senate will sort of the matter soon. ” We have absolute confidence that this matter will be sorted out soon. Senator David Mark has proven himself as a statement and he knows the meaning of freedom of association.”
He said,”What you are witnessing is the internal politics of the senate, we have confidence in the leadership.
“There is a problem in the senate and we believe that Senator David Mark has been over years, proven himself as an astute statesman, democrat and politician.
“We still believe that this is a problem that has a political solution and what we need to do as senators under our leadership is to look for a solution that will satisfy the desires of individual senators satisfy the desires of individual citizens of the country to see greatef democracy, satisfy the constitution to allow free association of persons and I think the challenge before the senate is to look for the solution and we are still working together.”
While briefing newsmen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved soon.
“The senate has rules and these senators are aware of the rules. The Senate President has not done anything special, he is only playing by the rules of the Senate.”
