Saraki’s Election Is Unacceptable, says Abdulsalami Panel

With the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee declaring that Senate President Bukola Saraki’s and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu’s elections are “unacceptable”, the bitter row sparked by the exercise may just have attained a different dimension.

The committee faulted the process that led to the election of the key principal officers of the Senate in a new statement signed by the Convener, Bishop Hassan Mathew Kukah.

“The story of the process leading to the elections of the principal officers in that august body last week is well-known to all Nigerians. Given the maturity, track record and experience of the body, we wonder why a routine process has turned into an ugly, selfish dogfight. 

“This is unacceptable to Nigerians. It neither dignified the Senate nor does it honour what Nigerians voted for.”

The National Peace Committee 2015 played a pivotal role in ensuring peaceful elections. The group facilitated a peace pact between former President Goodluck Jonathan and his then challenger President Muhammadu Buhari to douse the tension in the land ahead of the crucial general elections.

The group also spearheaded the post-election peace management.

Saraki was elected by less than 60 of the 109 senators on June 9, with minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members behind him. The Deputy Senate President is a member of the PDP.

The committee said it was important for the highest legislative body to uphold moral authority and value.

It said: “We must have all arms on deck so that we can quickly rout Boko Haram, restore law and order and proceed with the much-desired change of cleansing the Augean stable and delivering quality services to the Nigerian people.

"It is not the way to thank God for what he has done to those who were lucky to be elected to that high office, nor does it honour what He has done to our country.”


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