By Fatou Sillah
A bid by the Minority Leader and National Assembly Member for Brikama North, Alagie S. Darboe, to introduce an urgent motion concerning allegations of misconduct against Deputy Speaker Seedy S.K. Njie sparked heated procedural debate in the National Assembly on Monday.
The proposed motion prompted extensive discussions among lawmakers over whether the matter could be properly considered while Mr. Njie was presiding over the sitting and whether an ongoing petition process should take precedence.
Addressing the Assembly, Deputy Speaker Njie argued that any proceedings relating to allegations against him should be handled by Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta rather than by himself. He further informed members that a petition concerning the matter had already been referred to a parliamentary committee and warned that parallel action by the Assembly could prejudice the committee’s work.
“I should not preside over issues that affect myself,” Mr. Njie told members. “If it is about myself, we should allow the Speaker to return and address matters affecting me, just as I would address matters affecting the Speaker.”
His remarks did little to settle the issue, as lawmakers became sharply divided over the way forward.
Several members called on the Deputy Speaker to recuse himself from presiding over discussions related to the allegations, while others argued that the Assembly should await the outcome of the petition filed against him before taking further action.
The disagreement led to tense exchanges across the chamber, resulting in a temporary suspension of proceedings for 30 minutes to allow for consultations among parliamentary leaders.
When the sitting resumed, Minority Leader Darboe announced that discussions among members had yielded a consensus not to proceed with the motion at this stage.
According to Mr. Darboe, parliamentary leaders concluded that the proposed motion could not be pursued under the provisions being relied upon because there was currently no formal investigation underway.
“We have little discussions, then later suggestions, and then we concluded as follows. That the motion against the deputy speaker is not applicable since we rely on 53(K) and there is no investigation in process as of now,” he said. “That we allow the sittings to proceed and that we are aware that the petition is in progress and we allow the process of the petition to continue.”
Mr. Darboe added that the Assembly’s leadership had agreed to urgently explore the possibility of bringing a substantive motion on the matter at a later date.
He disclosed that a meeting involving the Majority and Minority leadership, Chief Whips, and other senior members of the National Assembly had been scheduled for the following day to discuss the issue and determine an appropriate course of action.
“And finally, the leadership to discuss the modality of the need for the assembly to come with a substantive motion,” he said. “The leadership is advised to act urgently. The leadership has agreed to start a discussion. We are meeting tomorrow.”
The development underscores growing tensions within the National Assembly over the allegations facing the Deputy Speaker and signals that the matter is likely to remain a subject of parliamentary attention in the coming days.
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