Sombre Senate Resumes Plenary Without Principal Officers

By Uche Mbah

The Nigerian Senate resumed plenary Tuesday in a sombre mood, with very scanty attendance following the tsunami that resulted in the loss of re-election bid by many Senators.

But most importantly, some Senators, including both majority and minority leaders, crossed carpets from their respective parties to virgin grounds.

The Senate is sitting for the first time in six weeks-from May 11, 2022-after it adjourned plenary to enable Senators participate in the ongoing primary elections of various parties.

During this period, as was reported by this Magazine, Majority Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Kebbi North, decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Also the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, left PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

Besides, it is estimated that not more than 30 per cent of the Senators may be returning to the red Chamber.

According to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who himself will not be returning to the Senate, he attributed Abdullahi’s resignation as Senate Leader to his defection.

He read the resignation letters of both Principal Officers to the Senators.

Lawan also read a letter from the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero, Kebbi Central, who has defected from the APC to the PDP.

With Abaribe’s defection, APGA is now represented in the Senate.