Delegates at the National Conference on resumption in Abuja
Monday adopted 70 per cent majority vote to be used in arriving at decisions at
the conference.
The adoption followed a motion by Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, representing
Former Senators Forum, seconded by former Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Victor
Attah, representing Former Governors Forum.
Proceedings at the conference were stalled last week as
delegates failed to reach consensus on whether or not to adopt 66 per cent or
75 per cent majority as the voting mode on decisions taken at the conference.
The issue in contention was Order VI Rule 3 of the Procedure
Rule, which provides that any decision in the conference shall be decided by,
at least, three-quarter majority.
The Rule reads: "Any questions proposed for decision in the
conference shall be determined by consensus and when this is not achievable, by
three-quarter majority of the delegates present and voting."
While some delegates wanted the conventional two-third
majority to be adopted in arriving at decisions, others wanted the
three-quarter majority to be retained.
This necessitated the setting up of a 50-member consensus
group by the delegates to confer with the principal officers so as to break the
deadlock.
Consequently, the conference adjourned plenary on Wednesday,
March 27, till Monday, to enable the consensus group and the principal officers
to engage in wider consultation on the matter.
At the resumed plenary on Monday, the Deputy Chairman, Prof.
Bolaji Akinyemi, presented the report of the consultative meeting to the house.
“The committee met on the 25th and 26th March, 2014.
Deliberations during these meetings were cordial. Delegates worked in harmony
to develop and put into effective use the spirit of consensus building with the
national interest at heart.
“At the conclusion of deliberations, members reached a
decision to amend Order VI Paragraph 4, XI paragraph 2 and XII paragraph 4 (e)
as follows:
“In the case of failure to reach consensus, the matter shall
be decided by majority vote of 70 per cent of delegates present and voting.
“That is the recommendation which that committee is bringing
to you, distinguished delegates," Akinyemi said.
After his presentation, Akinyemi called for discussions but
there was overwhelming call for a motion on the recommendation of the consensus
groups.
Following the unanimous decision of the delegates, Ayu moved
for the adoption of the motion and was seconded by Attah.
“I congratulate the committee for avoiding the impression of
a winner and a loser in this matter. I think we are getting to the point where
we are making progress," Akinyemi said.
Thereafter, he put the motion to voice vote with the delegates
overwhelmingly chorusing ``ayes".
Consequently, the vice-chairman ruled in favour of the
motion to adopt 70 per cent majority as the voting mode for the conference.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Adoption
of Voting on Conference Procedure Rule was also adopted by the delegates.
Delegates agreed that the various committees should not
choose their chairmen and secretaries.
NAN reports that the Draft Rule had proposed that the
Chairman of the conference, in consultation with the vice-chairman and
secretary, should choose the committees' chairmen and secretaries.
NAN
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