Empty seats force Senate to adjourn plenary

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday adjourned its plenary after discovering that many seats were empty in the chamber.

A senator representing Benue South in the Red Chamber, Abba Moro, who was uncomfortable that only a few lawmakers were in the chamber had cited order 10 of the Senate standing rules to draw the attention of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, to the situation.

He told the Senate President that lawmakers in the chamber were very few and not up to one -third of the 109 members required to form a quorum.

Moro argued that there was the need to adjourn the days business because of the low number of senators in the chamber.

But Lawan overruled him and argued that the senators who were seated in the chamber were not the only ones around.

He said the number of lawmakers that signed the attendance register was adequate to form a quorum, adding that some senators who were around when plenary commenced had gone to the tea room or toilets.

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However, Senate Yahaya Abdullahi, the Senate Leader, thought otherwise. He aligned with Moro and sought Lawan’s permission to adjourn the plenary due to the number of senators in the chamber.

Lawan called for a voice vote and the few senators at the chamber agreed that the plenary be adjourned till next Tuesday.

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