Process Of Saraki’s Emergence As Senate President Undemocratic, Says CLO President

Bukola SarakiThe President, Civil Liberties Organisation, Mr. Steve Aluko, has described as undemocratic, the process through which the President of the 8th Senate was elected.

He said that while the manner in which leaders of the House of Representatives emerged could be described as fair and just, that of the Senate was an aberration because it did not conform to the rules.

Speaking to Saturday PUNCH on Friday, the CLO leader said disenfranchising 51 senators from having a say in who leads them in the Senate also meant denying a large chunk of their constituents the right to determine the senate leadership.

He, however, said the situation was a lesson for the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, to put its house in order.

“It is an unwelcome development because the vote of 51 senators is a big figure that cannot be brushed aside. That of the House of Representatives was better because there was the beauty of contest, which is part of the tenets of democracy, but that of the Senate, you cannot wish away the votes of 51 senators representing a large chunk of constituencies in Nigeria”, Mr. Aluko said.