Tension rose in the Senate on Tuesday when former Gombe State governor, now Senator representing Gombe Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly, Danjuma Goje, accused the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, of what he described as an “unparliamentary act.”
The over-30-minute uproar occurred shortly after Akpabio entered the chamber and took over the seat from his deputy, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North), who had been presiding over the plenary.
The trouble began when Akpabio summoned the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), and others to approach the chair for discussion. Goje opposed this move.
Rising on a Point of Order 55 (12) (a) of the Senate Standing Rules, 2023 (as amended), which states that “interaction [is] not allowed” during proceedings, he said, “Interaction is not allowed except to move the business that we have been called upon to do.”
He said, “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.
“What I’m trying to say, Mr. President, is that what is happening now is unparliamentary. What you are doing here is unparliamentary. You should have done this outside. When we come to the Parliament, we do parliamentary business.
“I want you to listen to this. What we are doing here, everything is at standstill now. We are not doing business.”
In response, the Senate President simply said, “noted.”
This further infuriated Goje, who asked why Akpabio chose “noted but not sustained.” Subsequent efforts by Akpabio to pacify the former governor proved abortive, as Goje insisted that the senators meeting with the Senate President “should leave there so that the Senate will move on.”
The Senate President further explained, “Everybody that you see here was invited by the chair for a brief discussion in continuation of today’s sitting and in line with the order you have just read, whether or not we should proceed in view of a very urgent assignment at the villa by one o’clock. Please, approach the chair so you can also be part of it.”
Goje, however, said, “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.”
Akpabio then added, “I just want to inform you that today is the Armed Forces Emblem Launch which will take place at the Presidential Villa,” noting that he was hurrying to attend.