NASS Crisis: Ben Bruce, James Manager in trouble.

Two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Alaye Pedro and Dr Okechukwu Ibeh, Tuesday, sued Ben Murray Bruce, James Manager and other PDP senators from the S/South caucus, aiming to restrain them from nominating the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio as senate Minority Leader.


Approaching the Federal High Court, Abuja, the plaintiffs in an ex-parte sought an order restraining the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and members of the PDP caucus from the S/South from appointing the Senate Minority Leader.

Other respondents are 16 PDP senators from the S/South, which include Senators Nelson Effiong‎, Bassey Albert, Emmanuel Paulker, Ogola Foster, John Enoh, Gershom Bassey, Rose Oko, and Peter Nwaoboshi.

Others include Senators Ighoyota Amori, Clifford Ordia, Mathew‎ Urhoghide, George Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu, and Osinakchukwu Ideozu.

According to the plaintiffs, Order 3 (2) of Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) prohibits the appointment of a first-time Senator into any position of the Senate’s principal offices.

The Senate Minority Leader has been zoned to the S/South geo-political zone, after the PDP lost out in the last general election that saw to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the senatorial election, the PDP was relegated to the minority position having produced 49 senators as against the All Progressives Congress, APC, which produced 60 senators.

The PDP being the minority party in the Senate, is in the position to present the Minority Leader of the Senate, but Akpabio of PDP, is a first-time senator which is against the senate’s rules.

The plaintiffs’ counsel Banji Akomolafe referred the judge to a newspaper report which is part of the exhibits ‎filed along with the ex-parte application and the main suit arguing that Akpabio has been tipped for that position.

‎“The larger PDP caucus in the 8th National Assembly has concluded plans to subvert the mandatory provisions of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders
“The PDP S/South caucus is bound to select or appoint the Minority Leader in strict compliance with Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) which emphasizes ranking as the basis for appointment of principal officers, ’’he said.

He urged the court to restrain the respondents from taking steps on the appointment of the Senate Majority Leader pending the determination of the suit.

He sought in the main suit, a declaration, that Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) on the procedure for appointment of principal officers of the Senate, apply in the selection as it is mandatory.

He also prayed the court to grant a declaration that the appointment of the Minority Leader of the Senate in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) “is void.