Senator Dino Melaye on Wednesday made a dramatic appearance at the Senate, declaring his intention to cross-carpet to the Senate wing of the chamber.
Melaye had been away from the Senate, since over a month, when the Nigerian Police arrested him and he was subsequently admitted at the intensive care unit of the National Hospital, Abuja.
Appearing with clutches and neck support to Wednesday’s plenary, Melaye said he was no longer comfortable sitting on his seat at the wing of the All Progressive Congress (APC), saying he would cross over to the wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Melaye raising a point of order on Wednesday thanked his colleagues, members of the House of Representatives, his constituents and the Nigerian populace for standing by him during his travails with the Senate.
He also took his time to thank the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for their support.
Thereafter, he announced he would sit beside former Senate President, David Mark, pending the time a seat will be allocated to him.
Melaye’s movement was greeted by rowdiness among lawmakers at the Senate floor with those who spoke later expressing mixed reactions. The PDP senators spoke in favour of his move while APC senators tried to prevent his movement.
He was thereafter aided by some of his colleagues to his preferred seat.
He is, however, yet to formally join the PDP. To do so officially, Melaye would have to write the Senate president of his decision to leave his party and join the opposition. The letter would then be read during Senate plenary.
