Fresh crisis looms over Senate committees

Fresh crisis looms in the Senate as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hope of having equal opportunities with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the sharing of committees’ may be dashed.

The Senate Rules 2015 (as amended) provide for the spread of chairmanship and membership of standing committees across the six geo-political zones irrespective of political party affiliation, but some APC senators had expressed concern that the plan to adopt the provisions of the controversial amendment would lead to a fresh crisis in the red chamber.

Members of the ruling party, particularly loyalists of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who are insisting on having a majority of the positions, said the provisions of the rules does not mean that the opposition PDP will have equal opportunities like the majority APC.

The leader of the pro – Saraki group (Senators of Like Minds), Senator Dino Melaye, who spoke on the issue, said: “The word ‘equally’ was not used in the Senate rule 2015 as amended. So, there is no cause for alarm.”

He added: “The provision of the amended rule does not say ‘equally’ and there is no way that the majority party will have the same number of committee chairs with the opposition party. It is not possible, but everybody will be carried along.”

He also assured members of the Senate Unity Forum, who are loyalists of Senator Ahmad Lawan that they would all be carried along in the allocation of committees because Saraki, being a nationalist, would not be vindictive.

“The Senate president is a nationalist, and all members of the senate are his colleagues irrespective of political party affiliation or divide.”

However, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, also said on Tuesday that the leadership tussle in the APC caucus of the House was almost over.

Read also: Senate crisis: Buhari meets Lawan

Dogara, who spoke while addressing some APC youths, under the aegis of the APC Youth Mobilisers and Professionals, who visited the National Assembly, said he would announce the principal officers of the House on July 21.

“We will announce the remaining four principal officers by the time we reconvene on July 21.We pray that this matter has come to an end by the grace of God,” the Speaker told the APC youths.

However, Dogara did not specify whether the names to be announced on July 21 would be the same as those recommended by the leadership of the APC or he would stick to his position that each of the six geopolitical zones in the country should have one seat.

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