Mark Justifies Senate’s Refusal To Swear-in Emordi’s Replacement

PHOTO: SENATE PRESIDENT, MR DAVID MARK.

ABUJA, May 14, (THEWILL) - Senate President David Mark has justified the decision of the Senate not to swear in Chief Alphonsus Igbeke despite the Appeal Court ruling upholding his election as Senator representing Anambra North in place of sitting Senator Joy Emordi.

Senate had on Thursday shut out and refused to swear in Igbeke who was at the National Assembly to take his seat.

Mark in a statement today (Friday) signed by Mr. Kola Ologbadiyan his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity said the action of the Senate was constitutional adding that the Senate will not do anything that will endanger the nation’s democracy.

The Appeal Court sitting in Enugu on Wednesday reaffirmed its annulment of Emordi’s election and ordered the Senate to swear-in Igbeke in place of Emordi.

However Senate refused to swear him in on the ground that it received a motion filed by Emordi seeking further judicial action on the matter at the Supreme Court.

In justifying that action of the Senate Mark exonerated himself and the Senate of blame and urged the public to disregard reports that he had refused to recognize Igbeke.

The statement reads, "The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to news reports claiming that the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has refused to honour the order of the Court of Appeal asking him to swear-in Honourable Alphonsus Igbeke as Senator representing Anambra North.

"The President of the Senate, Senator Mark, has utmost respect for the Judiciary as a partner in the onerous task of deepening our hard earned democracy.

"As a mark of this, Senator Mark has always engaged in legislative functions that engender fairness and Justice.

"In the extant case of Senator Joy Emordi and Hon. Alphonsus Igbeke, the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and indeed the Senate, has never and will not act unconstitutionally," the statement said.