Senate President David Mark, Tuesday looked helpless when five of the 11 defecting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators formally announced at plenary, their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bukola Saraki, led the way when he raised a point of order that turned out to be announcing formally, his defection to the APC.
The other four senators, Adamu Abdullahi, Wilson Ake, Magnus Abe and Aisha Alhassan, in that order also raised point of order and announced their defection to the APC individually.
A visibly surprised Mark, however ruled the five senators out of order, insisting the case in court must be resolved before entertaining that.
Prompt News recalls that 11 senators had written to the Senate President, announcing their defection to the APC but he has refused to read the joint letter on the floor of the Senate.
Adamu Abdullahi, at the weekend had told our correspondent in Lafia, that they would device other means of announcing their defection at plenary if Mark would continue to play politics.
Senate Minority Leader Gorge Akume, frowned at Mark’s refusal to read their letter, saying it’s a breach of their rights.
According to him, “it is wrong for him to comment on a matter that was before a competent court of law”.
Also speaking on the issue, Magnus Abe said “We have absolute confidence that this matter will be sorted out soon. Senator David Mark has proven himself as a statesman and he knows the meaning of freedom of association.
“What you are witnessing is the internal politics of the senate; we have confidence in the leadership.
“There is a problem in the senate and we believe that Senator David Mark has been over years, proven himself as an astute statesman, democrat and politician.
“We still believe that this is a problem that has a political solution and what we need to do as senators under our leadership is to look for a solution that will satisfy the desires of individual senators satisfy the desires of individual citizens of the country to see greater democracy, satisfy the constitution to allow free association of persons and I think the challenge before the senate is to look for the solution and we are still working together.”
The Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Eyinnaya Abaribe, also spoke on the drama that played out at plenary, “The senate has rules and these senators are aware of the rules. The Senate President has not done anything special; he is only playing by the rules of the Senate.”
