In what was interpreted by many as registering her displeasure with the new Senate president, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday, Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central refused to shake hands with Saraki, after showing him her returning certificate as demanded by protocol.
The modus operandi demands that newly sworn-in senators, after taking their oaths, to present a copy of their certificate to the Senate President and shake hands with him, but Tinubu merely showed the Senate President her certificate and walked out.
The drama happened after Saraki administered oath of office and allegiance on Ahmad Lawan and 27 other All Progressives Congress senators who were absent at the formal inauguration of the Eighth Senate on Tuesday.
The senators had missed the inauguration because they were at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, supposedly waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari, who was allegedly billed to address them when the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, proclaimed the Eighth Senate and subsequently conducted the election.
The election, which had 57 senators in attendance, 23 being APC members, produced Saraki as president of the Senate, while Senator Ike Ekweremadu was elected his deputy.
After the election, Saraki administered oath of office and allegiance on 57 other senators.
However, the others, mainly members of the Senate Unity Forum, led by Senator Ahmad Lawan, mobilised themselves to the chamber as early as 8:30am on Wednesday, waiting for the Senate president, to formally swear them in as senators.
After the votes and proceedings of the previous legislative day were adopted, the senators took turn to take their oaths by reading it out aloud and append signatures.
