‘No crisis in Senate’

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Godiya Akwashiki (APC Nasarawa North), has refuted the insinuation of crisis in the Senate.

The insinuation on alleged cracks within the rank and file of the membership and leadership of the 9th Senate under the presidency of Senator Ahmad Lawan and Deputy President Ovie  Omo-Agege were reported in some national dailies on Wednesday.

Stepping down of a motion on vote of confidence, planned by 36 Senators in the leadership of the National Assembly during plenary on Tuesday, was mentioned in the reports as evidence of the alleged cracks.

But at a media briefing Thursday, the Senate’s spokesman, Senator Akwashiki declared that unity in the 9th Senate among the 108 senators across party lines, remained intact as it has been since inauguration in June.

He said, “There is nothing to worry about in the vote of confidence in the leadership of the Senate which was stood down on Tuesday during plenary.

“The vote of confidence motion has nothing to do with any crisis in the Senate. There is no crisis. Our loyalty to the leadership is total and complete. It is even possible for two senators to move motion on vote of confidence.

“It is a vote of confidence and not a vote of no confidence.  A vote of confidence is moved when members of a group are in support or in total agreement with the leadership. I see no big deal in the motion being stood down.

“I want us to exercise patience and wait for the day that the motion would be mentioned on the floor of the Senate. I won’t speak further on it because it is a vote of confidence. I would  have spoken more , if it was a vote of no confidence and the Senate president decided to use his power as presiding officer to step it  down.

“Those who are moving the vote of confidence are in total support of the leadership,  so it is not a serious issue.

“On the 36 senators comprising 25 APC and 11 PDP members,  listed as co-sponsors of the motion,  is a normal thing. All of us are in total agreement of the motion but we cannot all have our names in the motion. If all of us should put our names on the list,  then it’s no longer a motion.”

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