Senator Dino Melaye, who represents Kogi West Senatorial district has revealed that Senator Bukola Saraki was not voted for, but was unanimously elected as Senate President.
Senator Melaye stated this in a recent interview on the Osasu Show.
The Senator disclosed that the rules that were amended concerned the Open-Secret Balloting system which Saraki did not benefit from.
He said: “…what they are calling now amendment, is that the inclusion of the phrase that election should be conducted by open secret ballots and that insertion obviously is by the bureaucracy because there was no Senate.
“It’s not in contravention of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or electoral acts. Because the electoral acts as amended, prescribes open secret ballots, balloting system. And what they are claiming is inserted in the rules is open-secret balloting system. What is in the rules of the House of representative as I speak to you, is open-secret balloting system. As I speak to you, that is what is there.
“So if you find out now in the Senate, is only in compliance with the electoral acts as it is. So you have not done anything contravening the electoral acts”
“In essence, Bukola Saraki was not voted for. So, that law did not even apply to him because he was unanimously elected Senate President. There was no vote cast on him,” he added.
Senator Melaye maintained his support for the embattled Senate President, adding that the Legislature is not appendage of the Federal Government and should not be treated as such.