The Senator representing Delta Central in the red chamber, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, on Wednesday apologised to his colleagues over comments credited to him about the decision of the chamber to pass the electoral act amendment bill.

The Senator was on Monday referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over his statement castigating his colleagues for allegedly targeting the Electoral Act at President Muhammadu Buhari.

Barely 24 hours after the adoption of the point of order seeking a probe of Omo-Agege and his nine other associates who joined him at the press briefing, the Senator at Wednesdays sitting apologised for his conduct.

The action might save the Senator and his colleagues from Senate hammer of suspension which could be as much as six months.

But the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the sitting, told the Delta Senator to resolve the issue with the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Senator Omo-Agege, who took the floor through Order 54 of the Senate Standing Rules 2015 as amended, said that he was withdrawing the statements credited to him in the media.

Omo-Agege said: “Yesterday, I was not here. My colleague and my brother, Senator Dino Melaye brought a motion under Privileges which is in Order 15 of the Senate Standing Rules. Mr. President, I rose as a consequent on the debate on the sequence of elections in the Electoral Act amendment which was passed last week Wednesday.

“In the course of that debate and subsequent upon that, I addressed the media at the press centre. I made certain remarks during that interview which my attention has been drawn to. The comments are offensive, not just to Senator Dino Melaye, but to the entire Senate.

“I rise to apologise to the leadership and the entire Senate for those remarks. I take back whatever I said. Thank you Mr. President.”

While responding, Senator Ekweremadu said that the embattled Omo-Agage should rather face the Committee on Ethics and privileges which has been assigned the task of investigating him.

He said: “He came under Order 53. In my views, it takes a lot of courage to do this. The matter has already been referred to the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. I urge the committee to quickly look into it so that we can have the report as quickly as possible. Then we will take a decision.”

When Ekweremadu asked, “Is that the wish of the Senate?” the senators answered in the affirmative.

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