A federal lawmaker at the Senate, Abu Ibrahim, has threatened that the upper legislative chamber will never experience peace if its President, Bukola Saraki, refuses to step aside.
Since he dumped the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there have been several calls urging Mr Saraki to relinquish the position.
The argument is that since he (Saraki) has left the APC which is alleged to be the majority at the Senate, the party must produce the next leadership of the house.
It is on this basis that Senator Abu Ibrahim insist that the Senate President must resign else peace will be elusive in the Senate.
Mr Ibrahim who represents Katsina South at the upper chamber commended Saraki for his doggedness in leaving the party.
“I think it is commendable that he has left the party. He has chosen the path of survival because it is the issue of political survival not any thing for Nigeria,” he said while granting an interview to journalists on Thursday.
“But next is for him to resign as Senate President, because by all conventions all over the world, the majority party produces the leadership; Senate President, the Majority Leader and others.
“Again, let him be gentleman enough and resign as Senate President.
“If he does not, we will never have peace in that Senate because it is absolutely clear that APC has majority to produce the leadership.
“I hear the PDP claiming majority, but it is crystal clear that APC has majority. We will have more members. We will conduct two bye-elections and we will have the two members.
“We also have some alliance with APGA. It is clear that APC has majority,” Ibrahim said.
The lawmaker also debunked as unfounded an allegation that some senators attempted to break into the Senate chamber on Wednesday to reconvene plenary.
“How do you break into the chamber? If we like we can reconvene legally because it is legal for us to reconvene.
“We do not need to break into the chamber when we have the number. I will never subscribe to that. We can reconvene. The rules are there that if we are up to 30 we can reconvene.
“Why should we break into the chamber when we can reconvene legally and do what we want to do,” he said.
The position of Ibrahim that the Senate President should step aside on the basis of the party with the ‘majority’ at the chamber, HEADLINE understands holds no water according to the constitution.
Saraki who emerged the leader of the National Assembly and the 8th Senate found himself in that position based on his alliance with PDP Senators. He emerged against the wish of his party, APC.
Section 50(2) of the Nigerian Constitution says the President or Deputy President of the Senate shall vacate his office if:- (a) if he ceases to be a member of the Senate.
(b) when the House of which he was a member first sits after any dissolution of that House.
(c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.
Though it will be difficult if not impossible to oust him legally, the only option left for APC is to persuade Saraki to willingly step down but the lawmaker according to his aide wishes to retain his position.