The House of Representatives yesterday threw out a motion seeking to ask President Umaru Musa Yar'adua to send a vacation letter to the National Assembly to enable Vice President Good luck Jonathan act as president.

The House rejected the motion which aims at putting pressure on the president to comply with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

Rep Muhammad Sani Abdu (ANPP, Bauchi State) had prayed that the House urge the President to transmit the letter to the national Assembly within two weeks, saying his absence has negatively affected running the affairs of the country.

But speaking against the motion, Rep Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi State) said the House must be guided by the constitution which prescribes the powers of all arms of governments, saying the House lacks power to urge the president to transmit his vacation letter to the National Assembly in order for the Vice President to be the acting President.

Rep Mohammed Ali Ndume (ANPP, Borno State) said there is no need for the president to transmit the letter to the National Assembly, pointing out that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which the VP presides over said the President is capable to rule the country.

Rep Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto State) opined that since the Vice president is exercising all presidential powers, there is no need in asking him to transmit the letter to the National Assembly.

But Reps Femi Gbajabiamila (AC, Lagos State), James Idachaba (PDP, Kogi State) and Henry Dickson (PDP,Bayelsa State) who spoke in favour of the motion, saying there is the need for the President to transmit the letter to the National Assembly.

However, when the vote was put by the Speaker Dimeji Bankole on whether the House should compel President Yar'adua to transmit the vacation letter to the national Assembly within two weeks, majority of the MPs voted against it.