FILE: 35 APC, 48 PDP senators backed Saraki

The senate reconvened on Tuesday with the watching public waiting anxiously for the lawmakers’ pronouncements on two major issues.

President Muhammadu Buhari was expected to send his ministerial list to the upper chamber on or before Wednesday. But why not Tuesday?

It turned out there was no letter from the president on that matter, and disappointed Nigerians will now have to endure another 24-hour wait, at least.

But on the second, there was drama aplenty.

While the senate was on break, Bukola Saraki, president of the chamber, had been busy with the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) defending himself against allegations of “false assets declaration”.

Minutes into the proceedings of the day, 83 members of the chamber passed a vote of confidence on Saraki despite the dramatic protestations of Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara).

In what is the clearest indication yet of the grip of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the senate, 48 of its senators backed Saraki, alongside 35 others from Saraki’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Full list produced below