The Senate, Wednesday on received the nomination of Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) as the new Deputy Minority Whip of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator La’ah’s nomination was contained in a letter signed by the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyawu and addressed to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and read at the start of plenary.
In the letter, Anyawu explained that the nomination of Senator La’ah followed the recent defection of the former Minority Whip, Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (Sokoto South), to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The letter reads, “We wish to affirm the nomination of Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus, to fill the vacant seat of the Senate Minority Whip.
“The nomination of Senator Danjuma La’ah follows after the defection of Senator Ibrhaim Danbaba (Sokoto South), the former PDP Deputy Whip to APC.
“Please, kindly accord Senator Danjuma La’ah all necessary cooperation and do also accept the assurance of my esteemed regards.”
Senator George Thompson Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East), while coming under Order 1(b) lamented the defection of PDP Senators who occupy the Deputy Whip position.
Two Senators – Senators Emmnuel Bwacha and Ibrahim Danbaba – both of the opposition party and La’ah’s predecessors, resigned their membership of the PDP and defected to the All Progressives Congress.
Ruling on Sekibo’s point of order, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, ruled him out of order, saying that his observation was not in line with the provisions of Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 as amended.
The Senate President urged the new Deputy Minority Whip to perform his functions to bring about stability and productivity to the Senate.
