Commotion in the Senate as PDP Senators Stage Walk Out Protest Over Member's Defection to APC

 

There was pandemonium in the Senate on Wednesday morning as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators staged a walkout after its member, Senator Yele Omogunwa (Ondo South) formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

The defection was announced during plenary by Senate President Bukola Saraki, who read the notification letter, said Omogunwa’s decision was in reflection of the recent developments in Ondo State.

 

This means that all the three Senators from Ondo are now members of the APC.

 

However, PDP senators were not happy with the development as they shouted "go, go, go" making which created a rowdy atmosphere in the senate.

 

Following the announcement, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, raised a Point of Order to protest Omogunwa’s defection to APC without a cogent reason, urging the Senate President to declare his seat vacant.

 

But Akpabio was ruled out of order by Saraki, who also cited another relevant section of the Senate Standing Orders. Things got out of hand when Senator Dino Melaye raised another constitutional point of order, insisting that the PDP was not only fictionalized but that there was a wide “gulf” in the opposition party.

 

Consequently, PDP Senators staged a walkout to address the Senate Press Corps.