By Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
A heated disagreement erupted on the Senate floor yesterday as the Red Chamber rejected a motion seeking to immortalise the late Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu, who served as Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), oversaw the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was won by the late Chief MKO Abiola but later annulled by the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida.
It started after Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, attempted to raise a motion on the late Nwosu and the June 12, 1993, election under a point of order.
However, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, put the matter to a vote, and the majority of senators opposed it.
When Abaribe attempted to raise another point of order to reintroduce the motion, Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele of Ekiti Central, objected, arguing that it was improper to revisit an issue that had already been ruled upon. Barau upheld Bamidele’s objection, a decision that provoked Abaribe’s anger.
In a bid to mediate on the matter, former Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, criticised the presiding officer’s handling of the matter, warning against a dictatorial approach that could stifle senators’ ability to express their opinions.
“This could set a dangerous precedent, denying members the right to raise points of order and personal explanations,” Abdullahi cautioned. “If upheld, it could hinder senators from addressing critical issues affecting their constituencies.”
In response, Barau ruled that Abaribe could reintroduce the motion through the proper legislative process by consulting the Committee on Rules and Business for consideration on the next legislative day.
However, Abaribe challenged the ruling, insisting that senators have the right to raise points of order at any time during plenary.
“The Senate shall, by resolution, regulate its procedure. Even if the Senate Leader objects, a senator must be given the chance to make a personal explanation,” Abaribe argued. “We are not under a dictatorship, Mr President. If you say we cannot speak, then so be it.”
Barau responded that Abaribe should have consulted him before bringing up such a controversial issue.
But Abaribe countered, asking, “Mr President, what is controversial about immortalising Humphrey Nwosu and June 12?”
Despite the protests, Barau stood by his ruling, affirming that the motion should be presented on another legislative day.
In his proposal, Abaribe had suggested renaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after Nwosu.