Senate denies fight, confusion over seating arrangements at plenary

The Senate has described as false report of purported fight among senators on Tuesday over seating arrangements during plenary.

Recall, lawmakers went for Easter and Eid-el-fitr recess and resumed plenary in the renovated red chamber.

Further recall, both chambers of the National Assembly, have remained shut down since the 9th Assembly, to give way to total overhauling of the system and renovation of the chambers seating arrangements.

While the renovations lasted, the Senators and House of Representatives Members, especially in this 10th Assembly, have been holding plenaries in their respective conference halls as temporary chambers.

At the resume of plenary on Tuesday, there were report that some senators expressed displeasure over the sitting arrangements, which allegedly led to rowdy season that culminated into executive session.

But briefing newsmen shortly after the plenary, the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu said contrary to reports in certain quarters there was no disagreement or rancour in the sitting arrangements by Senators.

According to the Senate spokesperson, “the unfounded story of a phantom fight over seating arrangements is an unscrupulous attempt to drag the image of the Senate into an unnecessary and needless controversy”.

He urged the general public to disregard the odious song of sorrow from “these incorrigible wholesalers and retailers of falsehood”.

“There was no disagreement, rancor or any verbal tirade in respect of the seating arrangements in the Senate chamber. The Senate resumes today in the newly renovated chamber and the seating positions of Senators were done in accordance to the established Legislative protocols.

“It is pertinent to know that rankings of Senators and leadership positions are considered. All legislators all over the world know and accept this tradition.

“The new arrangements in the chamber today did not depart from this. Every Senator is thus considered based on this Legislative tradition, hence there couldn’t be any confusion over seating arrangements. Senators have been observing this seating protocols, even in the temporary chamber” he said.