Senate adjourns till April 14

The Senate on Monday adjourned the plenary barely 10 minutes of sitting because only about 12 senators were in the chambers.

The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, attributed the inability of the red chamber to form a quorum to the just concluded general election where most members contested and played prominent roles.

He however said his colleagues would reconvene after the governorship and state assembly elections which would be held shortly after the Easter celebration.

The senate had resumed plenary after a two-week break for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Shortly before the adjournment on Tuesday, Ndoma-Egba said, “I have taken stock of senators seated in the chamber and I doubt if we have formed a quorum. I call for adjournment till April 14 for members to participate in the governorship and state assembly elections and for the Easter break.”

In his response before he ruled on the adjournment, Senate President, David Mark who presided over the plenary said, members would also seize the opportunity to watch the declaration of the election result on the television.

Mark said, “We are all glued to the TV at the moment. I think it is going to be difficult for us to form a quorum throughout this week.

“In any case, because of the various political activities and the normal Easter break, I think it is only appropriate for us to resume on the first Tuesday after the governorship and state assembly elections.

“I think that is the basis on which the senate leader made the proposal for adjournment.”

Ndoma-Egba, at the news briefing after the plenary, advised Nigerians to be lawful in their conducts and refrain from taking laws into their hands.

He said, “Election is a process, no matter the outcome. After the process, there will still be further processes to be followed in accordance with the law.”

He said under the Constitution, the recurrent aspect of the budget of the previous year would still be in operation until June, hence, the non-passage of the 2015 budget would not create constitutional lacuna for the country.

He declined comments on the alleged malfunctioning of the Smart Card Reader, but noted that the Senate would review the entire processes when concluded.