A heated debate erupted in the Senate chamber on Tuesday, sparked by Senate President Godswill Akpabio's decision to halt the plenary session for a private discussion with fellow senators. The incident, deemed 'unparliamentary' by some, unfolded as follows:
At approximately 12:10 p.m., Mr. Akpabio entered the chamber while the plenary, presided over by the Deputy Senate President, was already in session. He took control of the proceedings during the presentation of scheduled bills.
Approximately 10 minutes later, Mr. Akpabio summoned the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, for a private discussion, prompting a chain reaction. Several other senators, including Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross-River South), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), Titus Zam (Benue North-west), and Mr. Barau, also made their way to the senate president's seat, causing a significant delay of over 40 minutes in the plenary session.
During this time, the chamber buzzed with activity. Some senators engaged in discussions with Mr. Akpabio, while others chatted among themselves. Lawmakers left their designated seats to hold side conversations, creating a noisy and disorderly atmosphere.
Gombe Central Senator Danjuma Goje, a former governor and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), rose to address the issue. He firmly stated that Mr. Akpabio's actions were unparliamentary and insisted that such discussions should not occur during an active session.
Mr. Goje invoked Order 55 of the Senate Rule Book, which prohibits senators from interrupting proceedings, and emphasized that these meetings should be conducted outside the chamber. He proposed a recess to resume the actual business once the senators were ready.
Mr. Akpabio, however, provided a different perspective. He explained that the senators gathered around his seat were invited to deliberate on an assignment scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Presidential Villa, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
The senate president then invited Mr. Goje to join the discussion, but he politely declined, expressing his disinterest. This incident highlights a recurring pattern of Mr. Akpabio's behavior, as he has been known to keep senators waiting and pause plenary for private discussions, despite the Senate's rules.
