There was disquiet in the Senate on Tuesday over a vote of confidence passed on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and other leaders of the upper chamber.
The confidence vote supported by 83 Senators – 48 from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 35 All Progressives Congress (APC) members sparked protest on the floor of the Senate.
Some Senators almost exchanged blows but for the quick intervention of other Senators who stood between the combatants.
The motion was sponsored by Senator David Umaru (Niger East), while Senator Ahmed Rufai Yerima (Zamfara West) seconded.
Tuesday’s vote of confidence on the leadership of the Senate was the second in two months, the first was on July 28 when the senators adopted confidence vote as a sign of solidarity to the Senate President and members of the Senate Leadership.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) may have unwittingly sparked the protest when he dissociated himself from the vote of confidence.
Omoworare’s name was number 11 on the list of supporters of the motion sought and was granted permission by Saraki to make some observations on the motion.
The Osun State APC lawmaker to the consternation of the promoters of the motion, said he was not consulted before his name was smuggled into the list of supporters of the confidence vote.
He insisted that his name be struck out of the list since he knew nothing about the motion.
He added that as chairman, Senate Business and Rules, he should have known about the motion “but because it came under a motion of urgent national importance”, he has no issue with the presentation.
He, however, said his named should be removed from the list of sponsors of the motion.
After the confidence vote had been moved and adopted, the Senate President gave Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) the floor to speak.
Before Saraki gave the nod to Umaru to present his motion, Marafa was seen raising his hand several times.
Senate President who may have gauged Marafa’s mindset ignored him and gave Umaru the floor to make his presentation.
Marafa waited but when Saraki allowed him to speak, he came under Senate Order 53 (5) which says “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending.”
He was apparently referring to the welcome address by Saraki where the Senate President referred copiously to his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
But the Senate President asked Marafa to read Order 53(6) which states “It shall be out of Order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Senate has come to a conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission.”
Instead of reading Order 53(6), Marafa chose to read Order 53(8) which says “No Senator shall impute improper motives to any other Senator.”
Senate President promptly ruled Marafa out of order and asked him to sit down but he persisted.
Marafa protested profusely, but his protest fell on deaf ears as the Senate President further ignored him.
As Umaru read his prayers, Marafa was heard shouting “nay, nay, nay” to all the prayers.
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