Following the criminal suit instituted against the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu over forgery of the Senate Standing Order, the senior federal lawmakers in the camp of the embattled leaders are mulling Senator, Dino Melaye among other loyalists to Saraki as replacement as President pro-tempore and another Ekweremadu's loyalist as the Deputy President pro-tempore, News Punch understands.
According to Daily Trust, a source in Saraki's camp said that they had commenced arrangements for a president pro-tempore.
The Senate rules made provision for a temporary Senate president in the absence of its president and his deputy.
The provision is contained in Order 27, which reads: “In the absence of the president of the Senate and the deputy president, such senator as the Senate may elect for the purpose, shall be known as president pro-tempore.
In a phone interview, the senator, who did not want to be named, said that Saraki and Ekweremadu “with the overwhelming support they enjoy, will nominate anybody of their choice as president pro-tempore.
“If Saraki is going on trial, a president pro-tempore will be appointed if the need arises. Saraki can bring anybody of his choice from our camp. He can even bring Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West). You know that unlike the House of Representatives, there is no duration for a president pro-tempore at the Senate.
“In the Senate at the moment, our camp in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 40 per cent majority, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 40 per cent and the anti-Saraki senators only have 20 per cent. They only have the capacity to drag the leadership to trial. They have disruption ability, but they lack the capacity to effect leadership change. You know the battle is that of number,” he said.
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