The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday, raised the alarm that some mischief makers and rabble-rousers were blackmailing the National Assembly leadership over the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill.
Lawan stated this at plenary when the Chairman of the Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Kabiru Gaya, submitted his panel’s report.
The Senate President lamented that his telephone numbers and that of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, were even published in the process.
He regretted that he received over 900 text messages in one day.
Lawan said, “On the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, there are various accusations, insinuations that the leadership of the Senate, sometimes, the leadership of the National Assembly had tampered with the report of the committee on INEC of both chambers.
“Some of those accusing the leadership of the National Assembly and misinformed innocent, some are simply mischievous and rabble-rousers.
“This is the first time the report is laid here and this is the report of the committee.
“This is the decision of the committee on INEC and therefore, whatever would be discussed or considered about the bill will be on the basis of what has been presented to the committee here.
“If anybody feels strongly about any thing, he or she, should meet the senators to canvass for their positions rather than blackmailing our leadership.
“This is because my telephone lines and that of the Speaker were published and on one day, I received over 900 text messages saying that we have manipulated the report whereas, we did not.
“We will do what is right. We have our procedures and lobbying is part of democracy.”
