Teddy Oscar, Abuja
The Senate chambersย on Thursdayย experienced a rowdy session for several minutes as senators engaged in altercation over the credibility of June 21, 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.
Trouble started when the chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba, who relied on Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order, commended the electoral umpire for conducting the most credible election in the country.
Uba, a representative of the Anambra South Senatorial District, said that the conduct of the election by INEC was a departure from previous exercises in the country that were marred by irregularities.
He further commended the people and the government of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the election that led to the defeat of the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Ayo Fayose of the PDP.
He also commended the security agencies for ensuring adequate security during and after the election, and urged all the relevant stakeholders that contributed to the success of the polls to carry on with the same spirit in subsequent elections.
This accolade, however, did not go down well with Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the platform of the APC.
Ojudu, while also relying on the same Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order, alleged that Uba’s younger brother, Chris Uba, had led the police to cause havoc during the exercise in the state.
“My colleague (Andy Uba) had already read Order 43; I donโt need to repeat it. I will like to commend the governor-elect of Ekiti State and my governor for accepting the result of the election. But I want to say here, Mr. President, that my colleague, who stood here to talk, his younger brother, Chris Uba, led police to the hotel and smashed all the doors of the hotel,” he alleged.
But he was interrupted by the PDP senators, who shouted at him to sit down.
Senators Philip Aduda and Senator Smart Adeyemi were among the senators that moved against Senator Ojudu.
However, the timely intervention of the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, saved members of the lawmakers from exchanging physical blows when their tempers rose over the polls.
Intervening to calm the situation, Ekweremadu, who ordered Ojudu to read the Order 43, reminded him that the said order prohibits discussing any controversial issue in the chamber.
Consequently, he ruled Ojudu out of order.
He commended INEC for a โjob well doneโ, and implored the commission to do better in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.
