The Court of Appeal expelled former Principal Officers, Mwadkwon and Nkwocha from the National Assembly.
The Senate was thrown into a rowdy session as the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) as the Minority leader and Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) as the Senate Minority Whip.
Moro, who is a two-term Senator takes over from Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon, who before his sack by the Court of Appeal, represented Plateau North Senatorial District.
Also, Ngwu replaces Darlington Nwokocha, former Senator representing Abia Central, whose election victory was also nullified by the Appellate Court.
Announcing the appointments on Tuesday, during plenary, Akpabio noted that the Minority leaders had decided to nominate both two Senators as Principal Officers to occupy the seats temporarily with a vote of over 41 Minority members who signed for Moro and 30 Minority members signed for Ngwu.
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Soon after Akpabio finished the announcement, some of the Senators expressed their displeasure leading to an uproar on the floor of the Red Chamber.
Senator Ezea Okechukwu, speaking against the appointment, said it is an unfair judgment against other parties for PDP to take the lead.
He said, “Labour Party has 7 senators here and we get nothing? This is unfair and unjust, and it is against the spirit of the Nigerian Constitution.”
Responding, Akpabio said, “If you were talking about the APC now, I’m sure it would have been fair.”
This statement led Senators to burst into a burst of loud laughter.
Senator Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North), who could not contain his anger, stood up furiously and began to shout “Are we your slaves?
“Why will the Senate President be picking leaders for us?
“You have done your worst. You have pushed us to the wall. Meaning what? It is unfair. It is not about me, it is about the institution of the state.”
The arguments lasted for over 15 minutes as the Senate President tried to calm the situation saying “All you need to produce is a letter and if the majority of 41 people have signed for Abba Moro, then I can read the letter because the majority have agreed.
“It would be unfair for me not to announce this development and it doesn’t matter your observation, my job here is to work based on truth.
“Minority put your house in order first.
“The Senate President can only work with what is before me. You have Senator Abaribe and Aliero, their names are not here.”
