'JOY OF THE SENATE’ LOSES SEAT

Emmanuel Ogala
March 26, 2010 03:24AM
Shortly before midday yesterday, while the Senate was debating the draft amended constitution, Joy Emordi, who then still represented Anambra North in the Senate, received a call.

After the call, her mood changed and she stood up, left her seat and went to the Senate president's podium. Mrs. Emordi spent close to seven minutes discussing with David Mark, the Senate President. Her story held Mr. Mark's full attention while plenary was put on hold.

Thereafter, she picked up her hand bag from her seat and left the red chamber and went into the coffee room.

It turned out that this was her last appearance in the chambers as a senator representing Anambra North senatorial zone in the sixth session of the senate.

The Court of Appeal in Enugu had yesterday in a judgment removed Mrs. Emordi and declared Alphonsus Igbeke of the ANPP the winner of the seat.

Mrs Emordi has just 14-months to complete her tenure as senator which she assumed following the general election of April 28, 2007.

The court led by Justice Olakayode Ariwola in its judgement on Thursday held that she was not the winner of the election into the Anambra North Senatorial zone and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to her.

The Joy of the senate
“The Joy of the Senate” as she was fondly called by Mr. Mark, was a hard-line senator.

She always took clear-cut stance on issues and was instrumental to the dumping of two of the six constitutional amendment bills that was sent to the senate by the president.

She had strongly argued that the bills were poorly crafted and that it was arrogating too much power to the president. She was also a strong advocate for gender equality in government activities.

She headed the senate committee on education, a committee she has chaired since 2005 when she came into the senate by a ruling of the court too.

In June 2008, her election into the current session of the senate was up held by the tribunal.

In her reaction to the recent judgement, Mrs Emordi said that she respects the judgement of the Court of Appeal and still believes in the judiciary.

“We will definitely miss her”
Grace Bent, (PDP Adamawa state) who is her female colleague in the senate said, “It is a big shock to us in the Senate and especially to the female senators. Joy is one of our very vibrant and articulate and active female senators who are well respected.” Mrs Bent however expressed optimism that Mrs. Emordi will soon be back to the senate.

“The good thing about it is that she just have only one year to go to the election year and it will give her time to go and start preparing for the next election.”

Source http://234next.com/