Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali-Ndume, said on Tuesday that no amount of protest would force any senator to resign.
Ndume was reacting to a protest by “Occupy National Assembly” group, calling for the resignation of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Ndume stressed that there was a democratic process of recalling any senator, adding that protest was not the constitutionally-recognised process.
He described the protest as a “wrong precedence and anti-democratic’’.
“That is why we are not trying to say anything about them because what is happening out there is a very dangerous precedence that we are trying to set.
“I contested to represent Borno South. I did not force myself on my people and, therefore, somebody out there, especially the one that did not elect me, cannot force me out because I didn’t come in by force.
“I came in by ballot not by gun, not by placard, I have posters, not placards. So, if for example, I am short of performance and my constituents feel that they do not have time to waste, there is a clear cut process by which they can ask me to be recalled.
“They will collect signatures, ask for me to be recalled, that is the democratic way, not by coming here to stand and say you want to occupy NASS. You occupy NASS to do what, to be leader or to be senator? It does not work that way,” he said.
The protesters stormed the National Assembly to demand the resignation of Saraki.
The protesters also called on the legislators to conclude all issues on the 2016 budget, return their luxury cars and cut their N115 billion budget.
However, another group was also on ground to counter the call for Saraki’s resignation, saying the group calling for his resignation was anti-Nigeria.
Members of the `Occupy National Assembly’ wore green and white T-shirts, carrying placards with various inscriptions: `Legislators stop budget padding’, `Return exotic cars’, `Saraki must go’, `Enough is enough, among others.
One of the leaders of the group, Sadiq Jidda, told newsmen that based on all the allegations against Saraki, it was time he resigned.
Jidda said that they were not happy with the National Assembly in the area of law making.
He also complained about the salaries, allowances and constituency projects of the legislators.
“What does a legislator have to do with projects? We are gathered here to occupy National Assembly.
“Senate President should resign, his integrity is in question and he has been indicted.
“Yes, he has not been convicted but his integrity is in question,” he said.
However, some other members of the group said that they were not only demanding Saraki’s resignation but were protesting many other issues in the National Assembly.
But the pro-Saraki group “Save Nigeria Group” insisted that it was not necessary for Saraki to resign.
The leader of the group, Mr Solomon Adodo, said those calling for Saraki’s resignation did not mean well for the country.
To prevent the two groups from gaining entry into the complex, security agencies closed the gate.
The gate remained closed while the protests lasted.
