17th October, 2023
The Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, October 17, called for an emergency closed session of the Senate during plenary.
The closed session followed a walkout of the chambers by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, after Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order.
Ndume had citing order 54 of the Senate Standing Orders raised a point of order.
He drew the attention of the Senate president to his handling of affairs in the chambers which he said were not in consonance with the rules.
Ndume said: “Mr. President, there are some things we do in this chamber that are against the rules. Sir, nobody is too big to learn….”
At this point, Akpabio interjected and called for a copy of the Standing Orders.
He proceeded to read order 54 and said it did not support the point Ndume was making and thereafter ruled him out of order.
Upon the action of the Senate President, Ndume who was visibly angry packed files papers on his desk and stormed out of the Chamber and went straight to his office.
The Chief Whip was just settling down when he received a call from a colleague to return to the chamber for an executive session.
The executive session was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.
Is Akpabio losing control of the Senate already?
Ali Ndume had on 13th October 2023 slammed Akpabio for approving the passage of some executive bills without seeking the input of other members.
In a video that emerged from the sitting, Ndume knocked the Senate President for passing certain bills without formal reading and members’ contributions.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s Senator Ogoshi Onawo, representing Nasarawa State, also roasted Akpabio’s quest to pass some bills hastily.
“Very sensitive bills are brought and are expected to be passed with the speed of light, which is not good for the country.
“Every senator here is supposed to be adequately informed; he does his research and makes a positive contribution, but in a situation where even money bills are brought and expected to be passed within two hours, it wouldn’t be better for the country.
He said: “Sir, you are on the seat today; history will judge you that things like this are not good for this country.”
Responding to Onawo’s comment, Akpabio could not defend himself.
The senate president only said: “If the bills we pass are good for the country, history will judge me right. I don’t think we would come here to pass a bill that’s not good for the interest of Nigerians. So, your point of order is noted.”