A member of the House of Representatives, Solomon Bob (PDP/Rivers), has criticized his colleagues for reciting what he called “spiritual incantations” during the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House on Tuesday.

As the House was considering a motion of urgent public importance by the outgoing Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the plenary on Wednesday, Bob raised a point of order to decry how members-elect made spiritual comments when the election was going on.

Bob said, “I said I watched with dismay yesterday as member-after-member rose and cited what I will call religious incantations and prefacing their comments yesterday regarding voting with religious incantations.

“We are enjoined not to adopt any state religion, by our Constitution…Section 10. And we as key members of the government are not allowed to espouse or encourage espousal of any religion or religious approach…”

Abbas interjected again, saying, “Honourable colleague, I will want to implore you to step down this particular issue to allow one important issue to be done and then we can revisit it. If you can kindly do me that favor, please step it down. I will call you later to re-present the issue.”