On Tuesday, the Senate received a letter from the Peoples Democratic Party's national leader, Iyorcha Ayu, designating Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau (Taraba North) as the next Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate.
Senator Lau's nomination, according to Ayu, came after the former bearer of the post, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, defected from the opposition party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read the letter at the outset of the session.
According to the letter, "after the defection of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha to the ruling APC, the PDP Senate caucus has selected Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau as his successor."
"Senator Lau is from Taraba State, which is located in
the country's North-East geopolitical zone." the country, where the
position has been zoned.
“The PDP Senate caucus has duly informed the National
Headquarters of the party, in view of which we so communicate to you.
“We believe that Senator Lau will be an asset to the
leadership of the Senate.
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“Thank you and accept
the assurances of our highest regards.”
Meanwhile, the former deputy Minority Leader of the Senate,
Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South), has formally defected from the PDP to the
ruling All APC.
Bwacha’s defection brings the number of APC Senators to 70,
while PDP has 38 Senators and Young Progressives Party (YPP) has one.
His decision to leave the opposition party was conveyed
sequel to a point of order raised by the lawmaker during plenary.
Relying on Order 42 of the Senate Rules (Personal
Explanation), Senator Bwacha gave reasons for his defection.
He said, “In view of my desire for equal competition, and
about my desire to enjoy the full operations of my fundamental human rights,
Mr. President, I want to announce this day, that it is appointed to me,
henceforth, to enjoy free air.
“As King Solomon said, there’s a time for everything; now is
a time for me to leave the People’s Democratic Party.
“Mr. President, I say
I have the opportunity to breathe freely because of deliberate isolation and huge
division and factionalization in the party in my state.
“Mr. President, I had to leave because I seek to breathe
better. This day, I announce henceforth my exit from the People’s Democratic
Party, and to join the governing party because of the visible presence of the
party in my Senatorial District.
“I say this without fear of contradiction that my
constituents are happy about this movement because of what they have seen on
ground in Taraba South Senatorial District.
“So, we make bold to pay the PDP back by ensuring that
better days are ahead for the party in Taraba State.”
Immediately after his announcement to defect from the
opposition party, Senator George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East), came with a
counter point of order to oppose Bwacha’s defection, citing the provisions of
Section 68 (g)(h) and subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Sekibo, against the backdrop of the provisions cited,
requested the Senate President to declare Bwacha’s seat vacant.
Sekibo was, however, ruled out of order by the Senate
President, Ahmad Lawan.
Lawan observed that Sekibo’s demand was null as Senator
Bwacha had explained that the PDP in Taraba was factionalized.
He also drew Sekibo’s attention to a letter by the national
chairman of the PDP nominating a new deputy leader to replace Bwacha.
According to Lawan, the decision by the PDP caucus in the
Senate to intimate the national body of the opposition party of a new
nomination translates to an acceptance of Bwacha’s resignation from the PDP.
The Senate President, on the strength of the reasons advanced, ruled Sekibo out of order.
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