Update: Omogunwa’s defection splits Senate as PDP Senators stage a walk out

It was a rowdy session on Wednesday at the Senate following the dumping of Senator Yele Omogunwa, Ondo South of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The development led to all the PDP senators staging a walk out from the chambers to address Journalists in hearing room 2.

Soon after Senate President Bukola Saraki read the letter of defection from Omogunwa, the Senate Minority leader, Senator Godswin Akpabio quickly challenged it, saying that as lawmakers, they must not encourage political rascality, adding that the seat belongs to PDP and since there was no crisis in the party following the ruling of the Supreme Court which recognized Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the leader of the party, the Senator’s seat must be declared out of order. Senate President Saraki then ruled Akpabio out of order.

Thereafter, Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West rose to speak on the same issue in the same order and he was recognized by Saraki. Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP, Delta North then stood up to raise order 43 where he poked holes on the recognition of Melaye when the Senate Minority leader had Vern ruled out of order, saying that the point raised by Senator Melaye was absolutely not ñecessary.

Senator Nwaoboshi who reminded his colleagues of their positions in the country as Senators, however urged them to behave as Senators. When efforts by Senator Akpabio to speak again proved abortive as he was not recognized by the Senate President, he then led other PDP Senators out of the chambers.

As at the time of filing this report, the PDP senators were still in hearing room 1 brainstorming and almost all the bills slated for discussion in the order paper were stood down because they were sponsored by PDP Senators. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Labour Party, Delta Central was announced by Saraki to step in as Minority leader and he immediately took over the seat of Akpabio.