The decision of the group was read by the conference deputy chairman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who said all the parties involved agreed on 70 percent majority vote whenever any issue fails to attract consensus.
This decision was adopted by the plenary, bringing an end to two weeks of stalemate that almost tore the delegates into North-South divide
Daily Trust reported last Friday that the group had settled on 70 percent majority voting pattern in the absence of consensus.
The resolution said, “Delegates worked in harmony to develop and put to effective use the spirit of consensus-building with the national interest at heart. At the conclusion of deliberations, members reached a decision to amend Orders VI(4), XI(2) and XII(4) as follows:
“In the case of failure to reach consensus, the matter shall be decided by a majority vote of seventy percent (70%) of delegates present and voting.”
The motion to adopt the report presented by Akinyemi was immediately moved by former Senate President Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and seconded by former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Obong Victor Attah.
The group of 50 delegates also announced that at their meeting, the issue of who should appoint committee chairmen and deputies was also discussed and a fresh decision taken.
Akinyemi explained that though the matter was decided last week when delegates voted in favour of appointment by committee members, recent events proved that such approach is likely to generate fresh problems, among them inequality.
He announced that the select team had decided to allow such appointments to be made by the principal officers in such a manner that it would create confidence and reflect demography.
“It was also resolved that principal officers must apply the yardstick of experience in the performance of their functions and the fact that such appointments must cover all the 36 states of the federation,” he said.
While responding to objections raised by two delegates who described the decision as “a subversion of the will of the delegates of this conference,” Akinyemi said: “If we see a problem coming, I think we owe it to you to bring it to your notice.”
With this explanation, the plenary unanimously adopted the changes without any dissenting voice. Mrs Aladu Ibrahim moved a formal motion for the adoption of the rules of procedure that would and it was seconded by Ambassador Hassan Adamu.
Earlier, the chairman of the conference Justice Idris Kutigi announced death of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police Hamma Misau, a delegate from the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON), who passed on last week.
The plenary observed a one-minute silence in honour of the deceased who was an indigene of Bauchi state.
The plenary also adopted the conference work plan, with some amendments such as issues of public holidays and also asked for extension of time for committee sittings.
During the afternoon session, the plenary commenced debate on the president’s inaugural speech, where delegates were called to speak in alphabetical order. About nine of the 39 delegates called were absent yesterday.
So far, most of the delegates praised the president’s speech, saying it’s inspirational, patriotic and a pointer to the issues that should occupy discussions and decisions at the conference.
The plenary will reconvene today.
