Election sequence re-ordering: Senate suspends Ovie Omo-Agege

The Senate on Thursday suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who is from Delta State, for 90 legislative days.

The lawmaker belongs to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Also, the Senate disbanded the Parliamentary Support Group for President Muhammadu Buhari led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu with Omo-Agege as the secretary.

The suspension followed the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, led by Senator Sam Anyanwu.

The offence of the senator was going against the Senate during the amendment of the Electoral Act in which the sequence of the 2019 general election was re-ordered.

As against the order by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Senate said the presidential election should come last.

Political analysts described the re-ordering as a move that would put the president at a disadvantage during the election.

Omo-Agege was one of the legislators who moved against the amendment.

He went further to address a press conference describing the action of the Senate as targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

Omo-Agege was reported to have apologized for his sin, but went to court to prevent a possible suspension.

His going to court was said to be the main reason why some of his colleagues moved against him, insisting that he must be sanctioned.

However, some of his colleagues pleaded for him and the original recommendation of suspension for 181 days by the Anyanwu-led committee was reduced to 90 days.

Speaking on the situation, Senate President said: “Those of us that understand politics, understand that because of our own peculiar interest, sometimes some people decide to act like they are holier than thou or more committed — at the expense of others.

“This is not something that we should tolerate, and I believe that in an institution like this we must show discipline, but at the same time we must also show compassion.

“Distinguished colleagues, there must be discipline. We must show that such groups must be suspended and the case in court must be withdrawn.”

News Reporter
Blank NEWS Online founding Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Albert Eruorhe Ograka, is a Graduate of Mass Communication. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ).

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