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Angry PDP Senators walkout on Saraki over member’s defection to APC

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Drama, as Senate screens 82yr old nominee

There was a rowdy session earlier today on the floor of the Senate, following the defection of Senator Yele Omogunwa, representing Ondo South Senatorial District.

He dumped his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Angered by the defection, PDP Senators staged a walkout from the chambers to address journalists.‎

Soon after Senate President Bukola Saraki read the letter of defection from Omogunwa, the Senate Minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio challenged it.

He said as lawmakers, they must not encourage political rascality, adding that the seat belongs to PDP and since there was no crisis in the party following the ruling of the Supreme Court which recognized Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the leader of the party, the Senator’s seat must be declared vacant.

Akpabio was ruled out of order by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Read also: Jonathan’s ‘man’ Omokri lashes Fr. Mbaka over Buhari comments

Thereafter, Senator Dino Melaye (APC), rose to speak on the same issue in the same order and he was recognized by Saraki.

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP) who represents Delta North then stood up to raise order 43 where he picked holes on the recognition of Melaye when the Senate Minority leader was ruled out of order. He said the point raised by Senator Melaye was absolutely not necessary.

Senator Nwaoboshi who reminded his colleagues of their positions in the country as Senators, however urged them to behave as Senators.

Efforts by Senator Akpabio to speak again did not yield any results, as he was not recognized by the Senate President. Angered, he led other PDP Senators out of the chambers.

As at the time of filing this report, the PDP senators were still in hearing room 1 brainstorming and almost all the bills slated for discussion in the order paper were stood down because they were sponsored by PDP Senators.

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