Nigerian Senators on Tuesday vowed to defend and protect the integrity of the Senate. The lawmakers in the upper chamber of the National Assembly took the decision during executive session that lasted for almost 2 hours.
Reporting the resolution of the executive session, the Senate President Bukola Saraki said the Senate deliberated on issues concerning the workings of National Assembly with a particular reference to the Senate.
Saraki added that the Senate resolved to defend and protect the integrity of the institution and no amount of intimidation will deter them from performing their constitutional responsibility. “The Senate at the close door deliberated on issues concerning the workings of the Senate and National Assembly. The Senate resolved to defend and protect the integrity of the institution and we would not be intimidated in any form of attacks in performing our constitutional responsibility” Saraki said.
Meanwhile the Senate has also stand down the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for the confirmation of 27 persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission for two weeks.
The President forwarded the 27 name persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission in accordance with sections 14(3)(a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
But when the Deputy Senate leader Ibn Na’allah move for the Senate to consider the Confirmation of Nomination for the Resident Electoral Commissioners for INEC, most of the Senators suggested that they should step down the Confirmation since some of the nominees have been acting as the President’s appointees in disrespect to the Senate confirmation as stipulated in constitution.
Senator Mathew Uroghide in his contribution said the request to be stand down. He cited the case Ibrahim Magu who is still acting as Chairman of the EFCC after Senate rejection.
Senator Adamu Aliero supported the nomination and begged his colleagues to look into the list and allow the screening to go on. But Senator Anyanwu disagree with him and said the institution of the Senate is been ridiculed and they will try as much as possible to promote this institution.
Sen. Francis Alimikhena who also supported that the confirmation be step down said they should from the President on why Magu is still acting as the chairman of EFCC. “Let’s hear from President Muhammadu Buhari on Magu’s case, Magu is terrorising us, because we disqualified him” Alimikhena said
The Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said there’s a time frame to stand down the confirmation. He asks the Senate President to convey their feelings to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi finally moves a motion for the Senate to stand down the request of President for the confirmation of 27 persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission and the motion was seconded by Senator Cliford Odia.
When the Senate President Bukola Saraki puts the question whether the request of President for the confirmation of 27 persons as Resident Electoral Commissioners should be stood down for two weeks, it was supported by majority of the Senators present at the plenary.
