#Live – Abia Senators-elect queue, others follow, voting commences, uproar as NASS clerk announces secret ballot style

10.56am

Senators from Abia state are now casting their votes for would-be Senate President, followed by other states in alphabetical order of various state.

However, inauguration for the 9th Senate few minutes back started with uproar amongst Senators over   method of voting to be used for election of its two presiding officers.

The two presiding officers to be elected are for the positions of President and Deputy President of the 9th Senate .

Trouble started at exactly 10:10 am when the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani Omolori, after reading the proclamation issued by President Muhamnadu Buhari for inauguration of the 9th National Assembly today ( June 11, 2019) , announced to the Senators – elect that secret voting method would be adopted for the elections as contained in the 2015 Standing Orders of the Senate.

According to the CNA , the secret voting method is legalised by orders 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the 2015 Senate’s rule book.

But immediately the Clerk made the announcement , some APC Senators like Barau Jibril ( Kano North) , Ovie Omo- Agege ( Delta Central) etc, objected by shouting that  the rule had been set aside by a purported court ruling in Abuja Monday.

Specifically, Senator Barau fired a question to the CNA  on whether he was aware of the court ruling or not , to which the Clerk responded thus : ”  I will answer the question from you out of respect . I heard about the purported ruling but not served.

“May I appeal to all the Distinguished Senators – elect that the guiding principle here is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate Rule book as amended.

“Provisions in the rule book as regards how to conduct today’s election are very clear and that is what we shall complied with.

“May I please announce that I will not entertain any further question on the subject matter from any other senator elect,” he said.

Omolori thereafter directed the Clerk of the Senate , Nelson Ayewoh to call the roll for all the Senators – elect present out which all the confirmed 107 Senators – elect were confirmed present.

The remaining two seats are those of Imo  West and Imo  North Senatorial Districts.

Meanwhile , nominations have been made for Senators Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North) and Ali Ndume (Borno South) to take the seat of the President of the 9th Senate.



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