There was drama on Thursday at the closed door session of the Senate, which lasted about one hour as senators loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari confronted the Senate leadership, insisting that they have the constitution rights to hold secret meetings.
It was gathered that immediately the Senate began the closed door session, Senator Dino Melaye said despite of the resolution of the Senate that no group or caucus must be formed in the Senate, the Parliamentary Support Group for Buhari held a meeting on Wednesday.
However, some of the affected senators were said to have at the Executive session replied Melaye that they have every right under the constitution to form any group or caucus they want.
They said the resolution of the Senate cannot stand because it is unconstitutional.
A source at the meeting said Senator Adamu Abdullahi categorically stated that no one can stop him from belonging to any group or caucus, adding that the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is a product of a caucus.
According to Abdullahi: “Senate President cannot come up now to condemn informal groups in the Senate because some of these groups helped him in clinching the position.”
Other Senators who spoke said anybody has the right to join any informal group in the Senate and nobody can stop that.
The Senate at the meeting thus failed to reach a consensus on the matter before the Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, called for an open session.
Abdullahi had in an interview on Television Continental early on Thursday while speaking on the suspension Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said impunity breeds impunity.
He said Omo-Agege as a representative of his people has the constitutional right to air his opinion, which he did.
He added: “It is not within my power now to comment on whether what happened yesterday was right or not.
“All I know is that distinguished Senator Omo-Agege is a Senator of the Federal Republic and there are standing rules guiding the operation of the Senate.
“Our opposition to the poll reordering bill is not necessarily because of whether it will affect the chance of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, but the amendment did not follow due process.”
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