Daboya-Mankarigu MP, Shaibu Mahama, has accused the Minority in Parliament of attending the vetting of the Chief Justice nominee with a predetermined
Daboya-Mankarigu MP, Shaibu Mahama, has accused the Minority in Parliament of attending the vetting of the Chief Justice nominee with a predetermined script rather than a genuine intent to ask questions or seek clarity.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, November 10, he said the Minority’s conduct during the session suggested they came to execute a political agenda rather than engage meaningfully.
“Clearly, the Minority came not to ask questions but with a script,” he said. “Unfortunately, they couldn’t mark the script.”
Mr Mahama defended the actions of the Majority Leader during the heated vetting, insisting that every step taken complied with parliamentary rules.
“Every single act that the Majority Leader did was in line with the rules and regulations governing proceedings in Parliament,” he stated.
He explained that the Appointments Committee functions under the same procedural framework as the full House, and therefore, the Majority Leader acted appropriately in objecting to issues that breached those rules.
“Indeed, the Appointments Committee is an extension of Parliament, so every rule applicable to plenary applies there as well. If you raise issues that offend the rules, the Majority Leader has every right to object,” he noted.
According to Mr Mahama, the Minority’s conduct showed a lack of preparation and seriousness.
“They did not come to the party,” he remarked. “They had earlier announced they wouldn’t participate in the vetting, yet suddenly appeared with a script—which, unfortunately, they couldn’t execute.”
His comments come after Monday’s dramatic vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the President’s nominee for Chief Justice, where the Minority Caucus staged a walkout following a tense exchange between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.
The standoff forced a 30-minute suspension of proceedings, after which the Minority announced their withdrawal, leaving the vetting to continue with only Majority members present.
Mr Mahama maintained that the Majority acted in full compliance with parliamentary procedure and argued that the Minority’s boycott was politically motivated rather than principled.