From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Moro has dispelled rumour that he was absent at last Thursday’s plenary when the the Electoral Amendment Bill, which seeks to repeal and re-enact the 2010 Electoral Act and the controversy that greeted the amendment of the Section 52(3) of the bill, which borders on electronic transmission of results was passed.
Moro who noted that he had been besieged by barrage of calls by his concerned constituents on his stand on the bill and his action during Thursday’s plenary said he was at the plenary and voted for clause 52(3) when the vote was taken.
A statement by his Media aide, Godwin Ameh read thus;
“To set the record straight, the Distinguished Senator was at the plenary on the day in question. He voted for clause 52(3) when the vote was taken.
“However, along the line, some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Red Chamber in an attempt to distort laid down principles of plenary procedure, revisited an issue that had already been voted upon and put to rest.
“Having observed the body language of some of his colleagues in the ruling party who had their own hidden agenda of passing that obnoxious clause of amending the clause 52 (3), the Distinguished Senator could not in good conscience, sit and watch the brazen abuse of parliamentary procedure. At that point, he decidedly walked out of the chamber.
While positing that a mendacious report has been making the rounds that he was absent from plenary during the voting on Electoral Amendment Bill, Moro said the record of the National Assembly of the Senate plenary of that day is there for anyone to verify.
He advised journalists to demand for the record of attendance and check to know whether he did not attend the plenary of that day in question.
“It is instructive to note that Senator Abba Moro was actively involved in the meetings and deliberations that preceded the debate on the floor of the Senate and eventual voting on the Bill.
“As per his action, Senator Moro offered a clear explanation to his constituents saying, “In all our meetings in the run up to a debate on that electoral process, we had canvased many options. We had canvased the option of insisting on division and we equally canvased the option of walking away. In the run up to the eventual passage of that offending amendment, I decided to walk away. So, I wasn’t absent that day and it wasn’t as if I did not contribute to the debate.”
In the statement, Senator Moro reiterated his stand on the passage of the controversial clause to the effect that he is not a party to the amendment of Section 52(3) of the Electoral Amendment Bill.
“He, therefore, calls on the public, particularly his constituents to disregard the mendacious claims calculated at defaming his person and casting aspersion on his position as the elected Senator representing Benue South.
“It is instructive for the public to note that every action and decision of Senator Abba Moro, as the Senator representing Benue South, stems from his commitment to serve his people and protect their best interest. His action, regarding the amendment of Section 52(3) of the Electoral Amendment Bill, was guided by this same principle.”