Court won’t stop Saraki from naming Akpabio minority leader
Gabriel Kolawole, a justice of the federal high court, Abuja, has rejected an application seeking to stop Bukola Saraki, senate president, from the naming Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom state, minority leader of the senate.
Alaye Pedro and Okechukwu Ibeh – both members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – had filed an ex parte application challenging the ‘likely’ nomination of Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom, as senate minority leader.
They contended that Akpabio’s possible emergence as senate minority leader would breach the senate standing orders, which exempts first-term senators from holding such a position.
The PDP, which lost the majority seat in the senate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the March general election, had zoned the position of senate minority leader to the south south, with Akpabio being the preferred candidate.
Delivering his ruling after listening to the argument of BJ Akomolafe, counsel to the plaintiff, Justice Kolawole held that litigants, not being members of the senate, had no locus standi to file the suit and be granted such an application.
Saraki is the first respondent in the case while Akpabio is the second respondent. Other respondents are Nelson Effiong, Bassey Albert, Emmanuel Paulker, Ogola Foster, Ben Murray Bruce, John Enoh, Gershom Bassey, Rose Oko, James Manager.
Others are Peter Nwaoboshi, Ighoyota Amori, Clifford Ordia, Mathew Urhoghide, George Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu, and Osinakchukwu Ideozu. All are serving senators.
These are fake PDP men. They leave saraki alone. I am sure they were sent by jagaban to cause disaffection.
I knew Akpabio was going to cause an interesting stir in that Senate ….Nigerians, please enjoy !
By the by ! why should PDP get themselves infected with infighting which , of course , is only typical of apc . Stop that bad manner please .
Akpabio has never respected laid down rules, his only rule is “what money can not do, more money can”.This’s just d beginning of ‘Akpabioism’ in d 8th Senate. By d way,is dis not part of a selfish deal Saraki entered into with PDP? All of these will backfire on Saraki, it’s a matter of time,let’s watch (Act 1,scene 2)
NAMING AKPABIO THE MINORITY LEADER IS A WELCOME IDEA. HE DID VERY WELL AS GOVERNOR OF HIS STATE. HE IS GOD FEARING AND I BELIEVE IF HE PUTS INTO PLACE HIS WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE WITH HIS LIKES IN THE SENATE. PLEASE THE HONORABLE SENATORS OF PROGRESSIVE MINDS, LOVERS OF THIS COUNTRY, POOL YOUR RESOURCES TO GIVE ATRIAL.
GOD BLESS YOU.