APC senators fault selection of Akpabio as Minority Leader

By Onyedi Ojiabo

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday named occupants of the four principal offices reserved for the minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Red Chamber.

They are: former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio as the Minority Leader; Emmanuel Bwacha (Deputy Minority Leader); Philip Aduda (Minority Whip) and former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi (Deputy Minority Whip).
But All Progressives Congress (APC) senators kicked against Akpabio’s choice, describing it as a violation of the ranking rule, which states that only returning lawmakers can occupy principal offices.
Akpabio is representing the Akwa Ibom Northwest district, Bwacha (Taraba South); Aduda (Federal Capital Territory); Mrs. Olujimi (Ekiti South).
Announcing the officers, Saraki said the four principal officers’ introduction followed their nomination, endorsement and presentation to the Senate leadership by the PDP Caucus.
Kicking against the announcement of Senator Akpabio as the Minority Leader, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) faulted the selection.
He said that the selection violated Senate Standing Rule which stipulates that nomination for principal officers’ position should be based on ranking.
Before the Senate President asked the Sergeant-at-Arms to lead the opposition principal officers to their respective seats, Marafa, raised a point of order.
He cited Senate Order 13 (1) and (2) that opposed the appointment or election of non ranking members to the position of principal offices.
He insisted that the PDP Senate Caucus violated the Senate Standing Order by nominating a non-ranking Akpabio as a Majority Leader.
Marafa moved for the reversal of the nomination and subsequent appointment, but Saraki mandated Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to respond to Marafa’s opposition.
Ekweremadu, (Enugu West) explained that PDP did nothing wrong in nominating Akpabio,  saying that it was not Marafa’s business who PDP Senators chose to pick as their leaders.
He added that the composition of the members of the leadership of opposition in the Senate is entirely the business of PDP Senators.
Saraki said that Marafa was “crying more than the bereaved and therefore ruled him out of order.
Insisting that relevant Senate rules were complied with in the nomination, Ekweremadu said urged the upper legislative chamber to uphold it.
Based on the Ekweremadu’s submission, Saraki upheld Akpabio’s nomination and the other three officers.

Culled from The Nation