The Senate on Wednesday administered oath of allegiance to Smart Adeyemi
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Senator representing Kogi -West
Senatorial District.
This followed his declaration by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) as the winner of Kogi West senatorial district in the
Nov.30 supplementary election.
Adeyemi had approached the 2019 election petition tribunal seeking the
nullification of Sen.Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP)
election on grounds of irregularities in the Feb. 23 senatorial election.
The tribunal had nullified the election and ordered for a re-run of the election.
Dino, not satisfied with the decision of the tribunal, appealed the judgment of
the tribunal at the Court of Appeal which later upheld the judgment of the
tribunal.
Following the conduct of elections for the Kogi West -Senatorial district by
INEC on Nov.16 and supplementary election on Nov 30, Adeyemi was
declared winner of the election.
Melaye had since rejected the outcome of the election.
The emergence of Sen. Adeyemi back to the senate had increased the number
of APC senators to 63, PDP 45 while YPP has one senator.
The Senate also at plenary considered the first reading of five bills.
The bills are: University of Technology, Kaduna Establishment Bill, 2019
sponsored by Sen. Sani Uba, (APC Kaduna) and the Nigeria Civil Defence
Academy, Pandogari Establishment Bill, 2019 by Sen. Musa Sani (APC Niger).
Others are the NYSC Act No. 51, 1993 Amendment Bill, 2019 by Sen. Odebiyi
Akinremi (APC Ogun ), Adeyemi University of Education Establishment Bill
2019, by Sen. Akinyelure Ayo (PDP Ondo ) and Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria 1999 Alteration Bill, 2019 by Sen. Basiru Ajibola (APC
Osun).
Also at plenary, the Senate received the report of the Committee on
Appropriations on 2020 Appropriation Bill (SB.80) presented by Sen. Barau
Jibrin (APC Kano) and report of Committee on Procurement for amendment
on Public Procurement Act 2007, presented by Sen. Isa Lau (APC Taraba).
It also received report of Committee on INEC on confirmation of three
nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as
Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
Following the consideration of the report of Committee on INEC, the Senate at
the Committee of the Whole, confirmed two of the nominees and stood down
one for further legislative inputs.
Those confirmed are Umar Gajiram representing Bornu and Dr Aiaiibo
Johnson representing Bayelsa while confirmation
