NASS Principal Officers: Senate Minority Caucus Reacts Amidst Rift Within APC 

Amidst the ongoing rift within the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) concerning the selection of principal officers for the 10th National Assembly, the Minority Caucus of the Senate have taken their side.

According to the caucus, the procedure adopted for the emergence of principal officers of the opposition parties was in line with Senate rules.

The minority caucus, who defended the process, said Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) empowers the Senate to make rules to regulate its procedures.

Naija News reports that speaking to pressmen after a meeting of the opposition caucus held behind closed doors on Wednesday, the Senate minority leader, Simon Devou Nwadkwon, noted that the process of appointing principal officers is clearly explained in the Senate rule book.

He remarked that “Premised on the constitutional mandate, and by the authority of the Nigerian Senate, the Senate Standing Orders 2022 (As amended) issued as the rule book to guide the conduct of legislative businesses including the appointment of principal officers by the Senate.

“Consequently, The Senate Standing Orders (2022) in Chapter Six (6), pages 21 to 22, Senate Rules Nos 27, 28, 29, and 30 provided for the Minority Leadership positions including the Minority Leader, Minority Whip, Deputy Minority Leader, and Deputy Minority Whip “Who shall be Senators, nominated from the Minority Parties in the Senate.

“The critical emphasis here is that the Officers must be (1) serving senators of the Federal of Nigeria, who are (2) members of the minority parties in the Senate and the word nominate in the Oxford language dictionary means to “Propose”. When a proposal is made, it is usually to an authority that has the confirming powers, in this case, the President of the Senate.

“Accordingly, the President of the Senate received the proposal, announced it, and publicly gavelled the Minority Leadership nominees into confirmation in line with the Senate Standing Orders.

“Even though whenever issues of political leadership are raised, you cannot discountenance the emergence of contentious voices, especially in a situation involving 6 political parties. This is expected because that in itself is the beauty and natural character of democracy whereby we disagree without being disagreeable.

“However, rather than dwell on issues of parliamentary politics we should now focus on putting machinery in place to unite all opposition parties and outline our opposition leadership agenda to the Nigerian people that will ensure a virile opposition assertiveness in the Senate to keep the ruling majority on their toes.”

Recall that on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had named the minority leaders without the input of the PDP, the major opposition party in the Red Chamber.

He named Senators Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau) as Senate Minority Leader and Oyewunmi Olalere (PDP, Osun) as Deputy Minority Leader.

Other minority principal officers announced are Darlington Nwokeocha (LP, Abia) as (minority whip) and Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano), as deputy minority whip.