Lack of quorum mars Senate plenary, adjourns till Wednesday

Senate plenary was marred yesterday as only 10 senators were present in the chamber for only five minutes before they adjourned at 10.35 am. To form a quorum, 37 of the 109 senators must be in attendance. Senator Andrew Ochendo (APC Rivers East) had moved for adoption of votes and proceedings of sitting of Thursday January 17, 2019 and was seconded by the Senate Minority Whip, Philip Aduda (PDP FCT). The Senate Majority Whip, Olusola Adeyeye (APC Osun Central) raised a point of order pointing out that plenary cannot continue because the number of members on seat did not form quorum. He was seconded by Emmanuel Bwacha, Deputy Minority Whip (PDP Taraba). Both the Senate Standing Rule Order 10(1) and Section 54 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) required 37 senators which is one- third of the 109 senators. “The quorum of the Senate shall be one third of the members of the Senate. ” (2) ii, at any time during the daily sessions of the Senate, a question is raised by any Senator as to the presence of a quorum, the presiding officer shall within fifteen minutes forthwith, direct the “Clerk to can the roll and announce the result, and these proceedings shall be without debate. “(3) Whenever after such roll call, it shall be ascertained that a quorum is not present, the President of the Senate may direct Sergeant-At Arms to request and, when necessary, to compel the attendance of the absent Senators, which order shall be determined without debate; and pending its execution, and until a quorum shalt be present, no debate nor motion, except to adjourn or to suspend sitting shalt be in order” Senate President, Bukola Saraki who presided had no option than to adjourn till Wednesday January 23. Senators in attendance were: Bukola Saraki, Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central), Gbenga Ashafa ( Lagos West), Emmaneul Bwacha (Taraba), Shaba Lafiagi (Kwara North), Solomon Adokwe (Nasarawa), Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West),Andrew Ochendo (Rivers East ), Francis Aliemekhena (Edo North) and Philip Aduda (FCT). Tunde Opalana, Abuja