The Senate has suspended Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (APC) representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Delta State over comments he made in February 2018, stating that the amendment to section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), bordering on the reordering of the sequence of elections, was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.
Presenting the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, the Committee Chair, Sen. Sam Anyanwu (PDP: Imo) stated that while conducting an investigative hearing on the issue, it observed that despite expressing remorse over his actions, Sen. Omo-Agege had taken the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki (APC: Kwara) and the Senate to Court.
Sen. Anyanwu noted the Committee was of the opinion that the actions of Sen. Omo-Agege was unacceptable and therefore recommended his suspension for 181 Legislative days commencing from the date of adoption of its report. He explained that the resolution of the Committee would serve as deterrent to lawmakers who oppose the powers of the Senate to regulate and determine its internal affairs.
Speaking on the Committee’s report, Sen. Saraki expressed dismay over the actions of Sen. Omo-Agege, laying emphasis on the importance of preserving Senate’s integrity and urging lawmakers to conduct their affairs with discipline. However, with the consensus of other lawmakers, he amended the Committee’s recommendation of suspension to 90 Legislative days and called for the dissolution of the Parliamentary Support Group which served as an advocacy group for the implementation of the President’s agenda in the National Assembly and headed by Sen. Omo-Agege.
It would be recalled that Sen. Dino Melaye (APC: Kogi) at a plenary session of Tuesday, 20 February 2018 had informed the Senate of Sen. Omo-Agege’s allegations in a press conference; leading the Senate to refer the matter to the its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further investigations.
