Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
Senate, Reps replace Appeal Court-sacked lawmakers, amid LP senators’ protest
National Assembly, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives have sworn-in the new lawmakers cleared by the Court of Appeal following its separate judgements sacking previously elected legislators.
At the senate, the President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment of senators Abba Moro and Osita Ngwu as Minority Leader and Minority Whip, respectively.
The two officers were appointed to replace Senators; Simon Mwadkwon of Plateau North senatorial zone, and Darlington Nwokocha of the Abia Central zone, whose elections were invalidated by a Court of Appeal judgement recently.
While Mwadkwon who previously served as Senate Minority Leader, is on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nwokocha was a member of the Labour Party (LP) as Minority Whip in the Upper Chamber.
This is also the Lower Chambers of the National Assembly saw similar swearing-in of all three lawmakers recently cleared by the Appeal Court to replace the previous legislators sacked by the Court of Appeal.
All three sacked legislators were previously on the platform of the PDP from Plateau State in the House, as the crisis which has pitched the PDP against the Court of Appeal in the state has culminated in the sacking of the Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, last Sunday..
Meanwhile, during Tuesday’s plenary, however, Senate President, in endorsing the recommendations of the Minority Caucus by approving the appointments of two members of the PDP, drew the ire of the Labour Party senators who objected to the procedure.
The protest led by Labour Party’s Tony Nwoye, representing Anambra North, objected to the ‘unfairness’ in selecting a candidate to fill a vacant position in the Upper Chamber, as they accused Senator Akpabio of taking a unilateral decision.
“Are we your slaves? Why will the Senate President be picking leaders for us.
“You have done your worst. You have pushed us to the wall. Meaning what? It is unfair. It is not about me, it is about the institution of the state,” Nwoye had shouted at Akpabio during the plenary.
However, responding to the accusations of unilateral decisions, the senate president explained that the names were submitted to him by the Senate Minority Caucus, saying he only work with what is on his table.
“Minority put your house in order first. The Senate President can only work with what is before me. You have Senator Abaribe and Aliero, their names are not here”, he said.
Meanwhile, at the House of Representatives, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, also Tuesday, swore-in three lawmakers for Plateau State following their victories in court.
The Court had sacked three lawmakers in the House of Representatives and replaced them last week.
Following the judgments, Ajang Alfred Iliya, Labour Party, replaces Dachung Bagos of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, and Vincent Vennape of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to replace Beni Lar (PDP) representing Lantang North/Lantang South Federal Constituency.
Also Fom Dalyop of the Labour Party was sworn in to replace Isaac Kwalu of the PDP, to represent Barkın Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency.
The House also swore in a new member from Enugu state.
