Wase’s Controversial Plenary Sessions

Udora Orizu reviews some of the plenary sessions presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase, which led to altercations among the lawmakers

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase (APC Plateau) is often in the news for controversies occasioned by his apparent disregard for the dissenting voices during bills, motions, reports’ considerations and other legislative activities at any plenary session he presides over.

Whether he’s presiding over the Committee of the Whole, or plenary in the absence of the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Deputy Speaker has a reputation for imposing his will on the lawmakers.

He is known to have denied the minority and some of the majority lawmakers, as the case maybe, their say. His infamous rulings have sometimes led to rowdy plenary sessions and walkouts by some members of the opposition and ruling parties.

Face-off with Hon. Shina Peller

On October 20 last year, Hon. Shina Peller (APC Oyo) attempted to raise a point of order to discuss the #EndSARS protest that was raging across the country. Wase, who was presiding over the plenary session refused to recognise Peller.

Peller had said, “As a member of the House voted for by the people of Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency, I deserve to be listened to by the House and I have a right to speak here. I have been raising my hand from the beginning of this session to this time; so, you need to allow me speak here.”

Hinging his decision on House rules, Wase argued that it only permits two motions of urgent national importance daily, disclosing that Peller’s was an attempt at a third one.

The response however angered Peller who threatened to speak to the media if he’s not allowed to raise his point of order. He eventually walked out when his request was not granted.

Speaking on the issue later, Peller said contrary to the explanation by Wase, the deputy speaker was not fair to him as he denied his constituents the opportunity to speak on issues that affects them.

He also tweeted stating that not even the Speaker, Gbajabiamila or his Deputy Wase can suppress his voice.

Rejection of Petition by the Tiv Leaders

Few months later, precisely in March 2021, Wase was enmeshed in another controversy, when he prevented Hon. Mark Gbillah (PDP, Benue) from presenting a petition against the federal government on an alleged taking over of their lands by herdsmen.

The petition filed by Mzough U Tiv Amerika (MUTA) on insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states had accused the federal government of nonchalance towards the injustice done to those who were displaced as a result of herdsmen’s activities.

But Wase, in rejecting the petition, argued that Nigerians abroad had no rights to file a petition on the crisis, saying it would be understandable if the petition came from those in the country.

“If they are in America, could they be an interested party here? Do they really know what is really going on?” he reportedly queried.

Gbillah, however, countered Wase on the grounds that Nigeria had been pursuing a policy of inclusiveness for its citizens in the Diaspora, an aim he said would easily be defeated if the same category of Nigerians could not be allowed to speak on raging matters of national concern.

While the rejection generated widespread condemnation and criticisms, the Speaker, Gbajabiamila, at the plenary few days later accepted the petition, which was presented again by Gbillah.

Twitter Ban Report

According to House rules, the Deputy Speaker shall be the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Therefore Wase chairs the consideration and possible passage of reports on all legislations and petitions.

In July, the House considered the report of the Committees on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values; Telecommunications; Information and Technology; Justice; and National Security and Intelligence that investigated the federal government’s suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.

While Chairman of the joint committee, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, was presenting the report, Wase who presided over the session interjected, suggesting that the report should be stepped down as no member of the committee signed the report.

He also opposed the report because the Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Sha’aban Sharada (APC, Kano), was not involved in the investigation.

Odebunmi, however, said the original copy signed by members was not the one copied to members.

The Deputy Speaker was then provided a copy of the signed version, but he asked if the panel engaged the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), on the matter. He noted that the committee did not explore all the avenues before coming back to the floor.

However, the Speaker, Gbajabiamila, who sat on the floor as a member, intervened before the report could be considered.

Electronic Transmission of Election Results

Wase’s ruling during the consideration of clause 52 in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill in July had also led to altercations among the lawmakers. The clause-by-clause consideration was almost enjoying smooth sailing in the House until they got to Section 52(2) of the proposed legislation, which gives discretion to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt electronic voting or any other method of voting in any election it conducts as it may deem fit.

The Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, however, moved a different motion insisting that voting, accreditation and transmission of results shall be done electronically.

Wase, who presided over the session, had put the motion moved by Okechukwu to vote, but while the ‘Ayes’ had it, Wase ruled in favour of the ‘Nays’.

It was at this point that the hallow chamber became rowdy and the lawmakers who voted in favour of electronic transmission of results left their seats and moved towards Wase’s seat to protest against the injustice.

This forced the House to adjourn after the stalemate. At the resumption of the consideration of the clauses the next day, Wase assured the lawmakers that Section 52 would be revisited at the end of the consideration. However, after the consideration of other clauses in the bill, Wase attempted to revert to plenary to report progress, but the minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu raised a point of order that Section 52 should be decided.

In response, Wase said clause 52 was considered the previous day hence, the decision can only be changed with a substantive motion for ‘rescission’. In protest, Elumelu and other minority lawmakers walked out of the chambers.

Indeed, Wase has a reputation for imposing his will on both the minority and the majority and this has disrupted legislative business on several occasions.