Toba Owojaiye reporting
In a Senate session today, Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip, created a stir by storming out of the chamber in a fit of anger. The tense atmosphere prompted Senate President Godswill Akpabio to swiftly call for an emergency closed session in an attempt to defuse the situation.
Ndume had raised a point of order, invoking Order 54 from the Senate Rule Book, to voice his concerns about Akpabio’s handling of affairs within the chamber, which he believed to be in violation of the established rules. He expressed, “Mr. President, there are some things we do in this chamber that are against the rules. Sir, nobody is too big to learn.” However, Akpabio abruptly ruled him out of order, exacerbating the situation.
Clearly perturbed by Akpabio’s action, Ndume left the chamber and headed directly to his office. Shortly afterward, he received a call from a fellow Senator, urging him to return for an executive session. The executive session was in progress at the time of this report.
Tensions have been brewing in the chamber regarding Akpabio’s handling of Senate affairs, with Ndume and several other Senators expressing dissatisfaction. Their attempts to bring the matter to the Senate President’s attention proved futile, as he remained steadfast in his belief that he was adhering to the correct course of action.
It’s noteworthy that Ndume had previously come close to securing the position of Senate President but ultimately lost in the election for the 9th Senate presidency, with only 28 votes compared to his rival Ahmed Lawan’s 78. Senator Ndume has been a member of the National Assembly since 2003, bringing his extensive legislative experience to the ongoing dynamics in the Senate.