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There are strong indications that some Presidency apparatchiks are employing subterranean tactics to stave off possible defeat of the preferred candidates for the positions of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th National Assembly.
Investigations have shown that as part of the subterranean moves, the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambuwal has been pressured to convene the parliament at 8am today, contrary to a statement he (the CNA) had widely circulated, in which he announced that the inaugural sessions would start at 10am.
Similarly, there are also moves to alter the long-standing tradition of the National Assembly on the order of proceedings for the inaugural sittings.
The long-standing tradition is for the Senate to be inaugurated first, and after the emergence of its leadership, attention then shifts to the House of Representatives for its inauguration and election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
Contrary to this tradition, however, the CNA is under pressure to convene both chambers at the same time.
Credible sources revealed that the CNA had been under intense pressure to take these steps, which amount to setting aside the rules of the National Assembly, and also contrary to his earlier announcement.
These moves, we reliably learnt, followed fears that the announced candidates of the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may not secure the needed votes to emerge as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
It would be recalled that the CNA, in a press release issued on Thursday, 8th June, 2023, announced that: “Following the Proclamation by the President, Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Assembly wishes to inform all Distinguished Senators-Elect and Honourable House of Representatives Members-Elect that the Inauguration of the 10 National Assembly is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 13 June at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja from 10:00am prompt.
“Distinguished Senators-Elect and Honourable House of Representatives Members-Elect are required to come along with their Code of Conduct Clearance, Certificates of Return and valid I.D cards for Registration at 10.am on Monday, 12th June at the House of Representatives Conference Room 301 and Senate Conference Room 231 respectively”, it added.
According to the press release, due to the ongoing renovation of the two Chambers, Senators-Elect and Honourable House of Representatives Members-Elect are to come along with only one guest for the ceremony who will be seated at the Arcade.
The press release signed by the CNA, also stated categorically that only Senators-Elect and House of Representatives Members- Elect shall be given access to the Chambers.
