The President today forwarded a correspondence to the Senate concerning his intention to proceed on a vacation for 10 days with effect from January, 23rd, 2017.
The President in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki said that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will act as President during his absence.
Also today the Senate rejected moves by some Senators to declare the action of the President in deploying troops to The Gambia as an illegality.
Some of the Senators protested the President’s deployment of the armed forces to The Gambia without seeking the National Assembly’s approval.
According to the Senators, the act was a gross violation of section 5(4b) of the 1999 constitution as amended which authorizes the President to seek the National Assembly’s approval before he can deploy any troop outside of the country.
The Senate today witnessed the defection of Senator Nelson Ekong representing Akwa Ibom South from PDP to APC. According to the Senator, he is defecting because the PDP has unresolved internal crisis.
Charles Akpan
Head, Press and Public Relations
