A tense and rowdy session brought proceedings in the Nigerian Senate to a standstill on Tuesday, December 2, following a sharp confrontation between Senator Danjuma Goje and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
A Point of Order Sparks Confrontation
The chamber had commenced its business under the leadership of Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau. However, the atmosphere shifted when Senate President Godswill Akpabio entered and assumed the presiding chair. Shortly after taking his seat, Akpabio summoned Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and a group of other senators to the chair for a private discussion.
This action immediately drew the ire of Senator Danjuma Goje, the former Governor of Gombe State. Raising a point of order, Goje cited Order 55 (12) (a) of the Senate Standing Orders, which stipulates that interactions on the floor are prohibited except for the official movement of business.
"Interaction is not allowed except to move the business that we have been called upon to do," Goje stated directly to Akpabio. "Mr Senate President, what you are doing is unparliamentary. You are disturbing the business of the Senate. You cannot be holding a separate meeting when the Senate is in session."
Refusal to Join and a Stalemate
In response, Akpabio invited Goje to approach the chair to join the discussion, but the senator firmly refused. Goje made it clear he would not participate in what he deemed an improper action. "I don't want to be part of it. I'm opposed to this one. I will not come. It's unparliamentary. It's wrong," he insisted.
He further pressed the Senate President, demanding that the senators clustered around the leadership seat should "leave there so that the Senate will move on." Akpabio's attempt to defuse the situation with a simple "noted" was met with a retort from Goje: "Noted but not sustained?"
Explanation and Eventual Resumption
To clarify the reason for the sidebar, Akpabio later addressed the chamber. He explained that the brief meeting was to determine if plenary could proceed smoothly, considering a scheduled Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem launch at the Presidential Villa at 1 p.m., which required his prompt attention.
Despite this explanation, the damage was done. The heated exchange and procedural dispute left the Senate's plenary stalled for more than half an hour before normal legislative business could eventually resume. The incident highlighted deep-seated concerns over adherence to parliamentary rules and decorum within the upper legislative chamber.
