9th Assembly: Boroffice withdraws from Deputy Senate Presidency race

POLITICS

9th Assembly: Boroffice withdraws from Deputy Senate Presidency race

 

Ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration of the National Assembly, front-line contender for the position of Deputy Senate President, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, has withdrawn from the race.

In a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Kayode Fakuyi, stated that “in deference to President Muhammadu Buhari”, Senator Borofice steps down for another contender for the position.

It was gathered that the decision was rectified last night at the caucus meeting of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senators-elect.

A source however disclosed that the third-term senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District stepped down for Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State.

The press statement issued on Monday read, “Some weeks ago, Distinguished Senator (Prof.) Robert Ajayi Boroffice, OON declared intention, through letters addressed to Senators-elect, to seek the office of Deputy Senate President. The intention to contest was anchored on the deep conviction that with his excellent public service record, rich legislative experience and personality, he has the best credentials for the position.

“Consequently, he embarked on extensive consultations with party leaders, senators-elect and political groups. Indeed, everybody that was consulted agreed that he is eminently qualified to seek the office of Deputy Senate President.

“Instructively, majority Senators-elect have assured the senator of their support and the prospect of victory is high.

“However, in deference to President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice has decided to withdraw from the race.

“For the support and solidarity, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice is grateful to Senators-elect. He is humbled by the warm embrace and great display of camaraderie.

“We appreciate the people of Ondo North senatorial district and our friends across the country for the prayers, support and goodwill messages.

“For the far-reaching endorsements, steadfastness and unflinching support, gratitude goes to all concerned political groups across the country especially, the APC Young Stakeholders group, the Women for Buhari and Osinbajo group, and the Ondo APC Youth League,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the stepping down of Borofice has reduced the number of aspirants jostling for the Deputy Senate President’s position.

Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Senator Francis Alimikhena and Ovie Omo-Agege have shown interest in becoming the Deputy Senate President of the ninth Senate.

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9th Assembly: APC announces preferred candidate for Deputy Senate Presidency, Deputy Speakership

POLITICS

9th Assembly: APC announces preferred candidate for Deputy Senate Presidency, Deputy Speakership

 

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally adopted Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege for the position of Deputy Senate President of the 9th National Assembly.

Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the NWC held in Abuja.

Issa-Onilu said that the meeting also endorsed Malam Muhammed Wase as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He added that the decision was taken after consultations with President Muhammadu Buhari, party stakeholders, and APC state governors.

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Senate Invasion: Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Should Be Investigated - CDHR

​BREAKING NEWS

Senate Invasion: Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Should Be Investigated - CDHR

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has called for thorough investigation into the invasion of the Senate by suspected hoodlums on Wednesday.

Thugs suspected to be loyal to the suspended Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district, on Wednesday, invaded the red chambers and forcefully took away the mace. 

Few hours later, Sen. Omo-Agege was arrested in connection to the incident but was later released.

Reacting to the recent development, the CDHR President, Malachy Ugwummadu, speaking to Punch, described the situation as a terrible one if Sen. Omo-Agege was found guilty.

Ugwummadu said “I do not want to completely accept that the invasion was orchestrated by the suspended senator.

“But assuming that it is true, it will be more unfortunate and a very terrible situation for him.

“What was Omo-Agege doing in the Senate when he had already been suspended? All these must be thoroughly investigated.”

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Senate Thug Invasion: Ekweremadu Speaks On His Meeting With Osinbajo

​BREAKING NEWS

Senate Thug Invasion: Ekweremadu Speaks On His Meeting With Osinbajo

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has said he was at the Presidential Villa to update Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, on what transpired earlier at the Red Chamber during plenary on Wednesday.

Ekweremadu and Osinbajo were having behind closed-doors meeting for hours after the invasion of the Senate chambers by suspected thugs.

Ekweremadu told state house correspondents at the end of the meeting that since the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, were out of the country, it was incumbent on him to intimate the Vice-President on the invasion of Senate by hoodlums.

He said: “I’m sure you are aware of the senate invasion today and we have to come and brief the vice-president because the president is not in town. It is appropriate for him to know. We are in a democracy; we are all in one government.

“It is the responsibility of the president or the vice-president to ensure that there is law and order in the country and once we have this kind of major development it is important that he is briefed at the earliest opportunity.

“The senate president is out of the country, it is, therefore, my responsibility to come over and brief the vice-president who has sympathised with us over what happened and he is going to join forces with us to ensure that we get to the root of the matter to make sure that this will not happen again.

“For us, it’s a threat to our democracy, the invasion of the parliament is not acceptable to any person, it’s not acceptable to me, it’s not acceptable to the VP, it’s not acceptable to my colleagues, I believe it’s not also acceptable to the president so those who acted this script must be on their own.”

He also appealed to the media to do its best in discouraging this “kind of brigandage”.

Ekweremadu also criticised Omo-Agege, wondering the right he had to enter into the red chamber when he was on suspension.

“All we need to do as a country is to ensure that this is forestalled and I want to appeal to the media to help us discourage this kind of brigandage so that people have to behave in a very responsible manner. But let me assure you that we are on top of the situation, we did our sitting today and we are going to continue tomorrow,” he said.

“Having suffered suspension, does Omo-Agege have legal right to enter the chamber? It was a breach of the law for him to force himself into the chambers, as I said police is still investigating we are going to find out the details of those who aided him to come in and then some of them I believe have been arrested and we will get to the root of the matter,” he added,

It could be recalled that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege allegedly led suspected thugs into the senate chamber to cart away the mace, which is the symbol of authority of the legislature.

Theodore Orji, a Senator from Abia state was speaking on the floor of the senate when the unwanted visitors broke in.

The senate immediately went into a closed-door session after which a spare mace was brought and it reconvened.

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Senate Thug Invasion, Stolen Mace Sponsored By People In The High Position - Ben Bruce

​BREAKING NEWS

Senate Thug Invasion, Stolen Mace Sponsored By People In The High Position - Ben Bruce

Ben Murray-Bruce, the Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, has warned that the Senate will not be “cowed”, after thugs broke into the National Assembly and made away with the mace on Wednesday.

Writing on his verified Twitter handle, Ben Bruce insinuated that the incident was supported by people in high positions.

“What happened at the Senate was unfortunate. Just yesterday I mentioned that the tension in the country is worse than it was before Shagari was overthrown.

“Today this happened. Can the Senate be cowed? Can I be cowed? Anyone, no matter how high, who thinks so, should think again!,” he tweeted.

Thugs suspected to be loyal to the suspended Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district, Ovie Omo-Agege had invaded the red chambers and forcefully took away the mace.

They broke into the chambers when plenary was going on, creating serious confusion and tension.

Few minutes later, the mace was recovered and the hallowed chamber resumed sitting.

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