The Senate Unity Forum (SUF) is in lodger heads the Senate President Bukola Saraki over the recent composition of the various Standing Committees in the Red Chamber.
Two principal members of the SUF, Senators Suleiman Hunkunyi and Kabiru Marafa, yesterday demanded the immediate cancellation of the additional eight committees created last week by Saraki, arguing that the new committees are illegal.
SUF is made up of All Progressives Congress (APC) senators loyal to Ahmad Lawan, who is the party’s choice for Senate president.
Hunkunyi, who is the SUF secretary and Marafa, spokesperson, made the demand during yesterday’s plenary. He argued that the Senate leadership erred by not seeking the approval of the entire lawmakers before making public the new committees.
SUF said that despite the fact that necessary sections of the constitution and the Senate Rules made adequate provisions for that; Saraki foisted his will on the chamber.
The two lawmakers argued the Selection Committee, which presided over the composition of the committees, was also not properly constituted. They demanded that Saraki review the entire process in line with the provisions of the law.
Marafa, who was appointed chairman of the newly created National Identity and National Population, and Hunkunyi, the vice chairman of the committee on Federal Character and Inter Governmental Affairs, expressed determination to relinquish their appointments with immediate effect.
While Saraki said the Selection Committee would note the observations of Marafa, he ruled Hunkunyi out of order since he had already addressed the issues as raised by the spokesperson of the SUF.