This is the first time Nigeria will be having ruling party 'APC' as the senate president and his deputy from the opposition party 'PDP'. But the victory of two men was described as unacceptable by the APC.
The APC lawmakers had on Tuesday morning converged on the International Conference Centre in Abuja for a meeting in which they were to be addressed by Buhari.
The meeting which was called by the APC leadership was to take place at about 9am while the inauguration was scheduled to hold at 10 am.
However, as of 10.56am, the lawmakers were still waiting for the President when news filtered in that the Senate had been inaugurated and that Saraki had emerged unopposed as the Senate President.
As if the victory of Saraki, a former Kwara State Governor, was not enough, Ekweremadu ended up beating Ndume to become the deputy Senate President.
The notice of the meeting which was circulated partly read,“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, will address all Senators and House of Representatives-elect of the APC at 9am this morning, Tuesday, the June 9 at the ICC Abuja. All concerned must endeavour to attend this meeting.”
The presidential spokesman, Adesina, said the APC leadership, not Buhari, convened the botched meeting at the ICC, Abuja.
Mohammed also confirmed that it was the party that invited its lawmakers to the meeting.
The APC leaders had hoped that a pep talk from the President, who did not show up at the Tuesday morning meeting, could save the day.
Before the statement by Mohammed, the APC leaders had shown that they were not comfortable with the emergence of Saraki as they all rushed into their waiting vehicles and headed for the National Assembly complex.
On his way out of the ICC, the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, told journalists that he had “no comment or reaction.”
The party’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, said, “We just watched it (on television) but we will address you when the whole situation has been re-examined.”
Senator Ahmed Sani had nominated Saraki for the office of the Senate President while Dino Melaye, seconded the nomination.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, declared Saraki, duly elected following the dead silence from the members when he called for another nomination for the post and consequently administered the oath of office on him.
There were 57 Senators in the chamber when the election was conducted but the number increased to 76 when the Clerk of the National Assembly was about to superintendent the conduct of the election of the deputy President of the Senate.
Senator George Sekibo nominated Ekweremadu. His nomination was seconded by Senator Olaka Nwogu.
Ekweremadu polled 54 votes to defeat Ndume, who scored 20 votes.
He (Ekweremadu) was also sworn in by Maikasuwa.
The National Assembly Clerk also honoured former Senate President, David Mark, by personally swearing him in as a senator of the Eighth Senate.
Saraki later swore in the remaining senators present.
Maikasuwa, in company with his deputy, Ben Effeturi, and the Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Adedotun Durojaiye, had entered the Senate chamber at 9.52am and announced, at exactly 10am that he had the order of Buhari, through a letter, to inaugurate the Eighth Senate.
Durojaiye, after Maikasuwa’s proclamation, commenced the process of voting by reading out the names of senators-elect and at the end of the roll call, he announced that there were 57 of the senators in attendance.
Majority of the members of Senate Unity Forum, who were canvassing support for the emergence of Lawan as the Senate President, were at the ICC where the meeting with Buhari was to hold.
In his inaugural speech, Saraki commended his colleagues for their maturity and patriotism in electing the leadership of the Eighth Senate.
He noted that by their action, they had demonstrated that even though they belonged to different parties, they were ultimately united by a common desire to entrench democracy and allow its principle guide their conduct.
He said, “The change that our people voted for is a change from a life of poverty, misery to a life of prosperity, happiness, security and comfort, accountability and respect for democracy.
“This is a change that all of us in the National Assembly must strive to justify, Nigerian want to see a proactive National Assembly.”
Saraki pledged that he would be guided by the enormity of the responsibilities that the current national challenge had imposed on everybody, while at the same time, strive to be just, equitable and fair to all.
He commended Buhari for remaining steadfast in his defence of the right of the National Assembly to choose its own leaders which, according to him, had laid a solid foundation for the stability of the National Assembly.
The Senate thereafter adjourned to Wednesday (today).
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