Abuja — PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday accepted the National Assembly's rejection of the Constitution Amendment Bill, saying that the decision is "a victory for democracy."

President Obasanjo who spoke at the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) however took exception to the derogatory remarks, bribery allegations and insults hauled at him by some legislators during the debates on the general principles of the bill.

Also, in Abuja, yesterday, leader of the 2007 Movement, the group of anti-third term legislators that fought the tenure elongation project, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, praised the president for accepting the verdict of the National Assembly in good faith.

Sen. Chukwumerije said that President Obasanjo's "public commitment to a two-term tenure and strong appeal for reconciliation and accommodation have lowered tension and erected a national environment for peace and harmony."

President Obasanjo said, "I believe that in all situations, decorum must be maintained and different arms of government must perform their functions with mutual respect and dignity.

"Just as the National Assembly and the distinguished and Honourable members should be respected, they too must learn to respect others and other institutions.

"I resisted the invitation to be drawn on either side and I maintained studied silence.

"I was maligned, insulted and wrongly accused but I remained where I am and what I am and remained focused."

He explained that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is already probing the alleged multi million naira bribe offered to lawmakers to adopt tenure elongation.

Describing the whole scenario as "democracy at work," President Obasanjo however asked the party's faithful to put behind them the acrimony and tension triggered by the vexed issue in order to move the nation forward.

"We should put the issue behind us, heal the wounds of acrimony and together march forward.

"Once again it was democracy at work and it was victory for democracy and all Nigerian democrats are winners," he said.

Other speakers at the well-attended NEC meeting commended the sterling leadership qualities of President Obasanjo.

Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State, frontline politician, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Senator Jubril Aminu who spoke at the emergency meeting eulogized the President, describing his election in 1999 as the best thing that had happened to Nigeria.

Senator Aminu in his speech, however, asked the party to rise up to the challenges of the times. He asked the party to flag off its campaign immediately "to shore up its electoral fortune."

About 16 state governors and their deputies attended the emergency meeting.

They include the governors of Ebonyi, Katsina, Kaduna, Kogi, Imo, Osun, Bayelsa, Oyo, Bauchi, Taraba, Ondo, Cross Rivers, Enugu and Nasarawa states.

Kwara and Delta states were represented by their deputy governors.

Meanwhile, the national chairman of PDP, Senator Ahmadu Ali has denied ever referring to the Senators as rascals and idiots.

Senator Ali however explained that the task ahead of the PDP was to reconcile the party faithful and reposition the party for greater performance.

He said that the statement credited to him by the BBC Hausa Service was never intended to castigate the senators because "according to him the senators are loyal party members.

Also, in Abuja yesterday, Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani said that the rejection of the constitution amendment bill by the Senate was done in good faith.

The explanation came as the coalition of the Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Ohanaeze Ndigbo passed a no confidence vote on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The coalition explained at a news briefing yesterday that the INEC as it is presently constituted would not give Nigeria free and fair election.

The ethnic nationalities which commended the Senate President for the mature manner in which he handled the debate on the failed constitution amendment bill, however, demanded the immediate reorganisation of INEC to allow for free and fair election in 2007.

The group, which spoke through the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Lt. Gen. Jerry Useni also paid a solidarity visit on the Senate President before meeting with the Senator Chukwumerije-led 2007 Movement.

Senator Nnamani at a meeting with the coalition, said that rejection of the bill came almost at a time when the debate on it was degenerating to warfare and possible anarchy in the land.

Besides, he said that the insistence of the Senate on live coverage of the debate was to enable the constituents know on which side their senators stood as regards the vexed issue.

According to him, the rejection of the bill was democracy at work.