National Assembly: Saraki, Gemade, others accuse NASS clerk of conspiracy

ABUJA—SOME senators opposed to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President, Tuesday, accused the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasua of conspiring with senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Senate

The lawmakers, who disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had, prior to the Tuesday’ inauguration of the National Assembly, asked Maikasua to delay the inauguration, due to his proposed meetings with legislators of the APC fold before election of the principal officers commenced, accused him of disobedience to the president.

Speaking through Senator Barnabas Gemade, APC, Benue North East, the senators wondered why the clerk, without confirmation on whether the said meeting had ended, opened the gate, thereby letting opposition senators gain entry to elect new principal officers of the National Assembly, leaving others behind.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, on the development, Gemade fumed: “The clerk of the National Assembly knowing fully well that a quorum for election of the Senate President has not been met, went ahead to conduct an election that shuts the door to about 53 other senators which would remain unacceptable…

“It was necessary for us to believe that the president had actually sought a slight delay to enable him speak to the senators that he had agreed to speak to. I think that respect begets respect and for that reason, we expected that if the president had made that request to the clerk, it would be reasonable for the clerk to be mindful of the fact and the status of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in view of those members that were called to the meeting. But unfortunately, this was not done, “he added.

 

National Assembly: Saraki, Gemade, others accuse NASS clerk of conspiracy