The Senate yesterday adjourned its plenary session due to the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

Rising on a point of order, the Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, representing Yobe Central, appealed to his colleagues, especially from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to stand down all the items on the Order Paper.

Lawan said: “Mr. President, very distinguished colleagues, today, the APC, the All Progressives Congress, the ruling party…” At this point PDP Senators interrupted Lawan with chants of “All Progressives Crisis”.

The Leader of the Senate continued his plea, however, saying: “The ruling party, the APC is holding its NEC [meeting] and it has already started as a very time-conscious party. Mr. President, our colleague Senators on this side are representatives of the chamber, APC caucus and because of this, I want to plead with all our colleagues across party lines to show understanding just as we have shown understanding when the minority party PDP had to go for congresses.

“Based on this, I move that we stand down all the items on the Order Paper till another legislative day to enable our colleagues attend the NEC of the ruling party, I so move.”

Supporting this, the Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba) wished the APC a “safe landing” in their meeting.

He said: “Mr president, distinguished colleagues, before I second the motion to stand down the items on the Order Paper, I want to join my colleagues from the other side and wish them safe landing that the number of police men are short in supply because of crisis all over the state. I don’t know how many we would dispatch thereto supervise. Having advised as such, I pray that there is going to be a safe landing.”

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, approved the motion and said: “I want to thank the minority leader and the minority members for the understanding. You know when your neighbour’s house is on fire, you must allow him to go and quench it.”