The ongoing controversy over attempts to make national assembly members Automatic members of their parties national executive committee almost claimed its first victim on Tuesday, as House of Representatives member, Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon barely survived the fury of his colleagues during.

Some of the lawmakers said the honourable member had breached their privileges by referring to them as political rascals and calling on Nigerians to take up arms against the national assembly, and moved that the matter be referred to the House committee on ethics.

It took an apology from Honourable Obahiagbon and a plea from the speaker of the House before the matter was dropped.

Opponents of the proposed clause have picked holes in the plan. The action Congress of nigeria for instance has warned that if the amendment succeeds, the lawmakers stand to be the chief beneficiaries of the contentious clause, which is regarded by some as a backdoor reintroduction of the ill Right of First Refusal' provision.

That bill had sought to give lawmakers an advantage by proposing they should have the first right to their seats, and those seats should only be declared vacant if they are not interested in running again.

The House has denied such intents. After the second reading, spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, said the aim of the member-sponsored clause, is strictly to disrupt the monopoly of the NEC of parties, and contribute to the growth of democracy.

"The aim is to expand the composition of NEC so that nobody will have monopoly over any issue, not only in the election, but other programmes of the party including its manifestoes," Eyiboh said.

At the Senate, the bill was sponsored by deputy Senate President, Mr. Ekweremadu, and co-sponsored by all the other 43 members of the adhoc constitution amendment committee. Key amongst them were Ndoma Egba, Ayogu Eze, Lee Maeba, Grace Bent, Nkechi Nworgu, Ikechukwu Obiora, Abubakar Sodangi.

At the House, it is sponsored by Mr. Maduabum (Enugu State) and Igo Aguma (Rivers State).