Mark, Ekweremadu leave NASS premises without convoy, aides

FOLLOWING the valedictory session marking end of the 7th Senate, outgoing Senate President, David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday evening left the premises of the National Assembly without the usual convoy of vehicles.

Also, the two principal officers of the Red Chamber were seen leaving the premises without their usual retinue of aides. Instead, among the several vehicles in their convoys, only a handful of three cars, believed to be their personal cars, followed them outside.

SENATE—Senate President David Mark being led out at the end of the 7th Senate in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN

The siren blaring vehicles and motorbikes, usually in their convoys, which were missing as they drove out separately, caught the attention of not just some legislative staff but some of the National Assembly workers who watched as they were moving out, after the formal closing of the legislature.

Both senators who have been in the Senate for over 10 years, were re-elected in the 2015 general elections to represent Benue South and Enugu West senatorial districts respectively in the 8th Senate, expected to begin session Tuesday, after formal inauguration.

But their chances of retaining their previous positions, which they have held in previous 6th and 7th Senate, became untenable, following the colossal loss of their party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, at the general election.

As the inauguration is being awaited, the PDP senators who will be at the Red Chamber are 49 while their APC counterparts are 59 even as they lost one senator, Ahmad Zannah, who was elected on their party’s platform.

Mark and Ekweremadu have used their leadership qualities to stabilize not only the Senate but also the National Assembly in general, which was reputed for having leadership crises resulting in serial impeachment of principal officers.

Source:Vanguard