A heated moment rocked the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday — and it all began with a side conversation. What started as a routine legislative session quickly spiraled into controversy when Senate President Godswill Akpabio paused the day’s plenary to privately consult with several senators right in the chamber.
According to reports, Akpabio arrived at about 12:10 p.m. while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin was already presiding. Without delay, he assumed control of the proceedings as the Senate reviewed scheduled bills. But just ten minutes later, he called Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to his seat for a one-on-one chat. That brief exchange turned into a gathering as more senators — including Asuquo Ekpenyong, Adamu Aliero, Jimoh Ibrahim, Titus Zam, and even Mr. Barau — joined in, effectively halting plenary for over 40 minutes.
As the Senate President spoke with his colleagues, the entire chamber descended into a mix of chatter and restlessness. Some lawmakers began conversing among themselves, while others left their seats entirely, creating what witnesses described as a noisy, almost chaotic atmosphere.
But the turning point came when Senator Danjuma Goje of Gombe Central rose to his feet. Clearly agitated, the veteran lawmaker and former governor criticized Akpabio’s actions, declaring them “unparliamentary.” In his view, side meetings during an active plenary violate not just decorum but also the Senate’s procedural rules. Quoting Order 55 of the Senate Rule Book — which prohibits any form of disruption during proceedings — Goje warned that such acts could undermine the integrity of the legislature.
“Mr. President, what is happening now is unparliamentary,” Goje said pointedly. “You should have taken this meeting outside. Everything has come to a standstill. We’re not doing our real business. We might as well go on recess and return when you’re done.” His admonition underlined a broader frustration among lawmakers about what some describe as the Senate President’s growing habit of pausing plenary for side discussions.
Akpabio, however, defended his decision. He explained that the impromptu meeting was necessary to coordinate senators attending a 1 p.m. assignment at the Presidential Villa. “Everyone you see here was invited for a quick consultation in continuation of today’s sitting,” he clarified, insisting the meeting aligned with Senate order and did not breach any official protocol.
In a surprising twist, Akpabio invited Senator Goje to join the conversation. “Please approach the chair so you can also be part of it,” the Senate President said. Goje refused bluntly: “I don’t want to be part of it.” The brief exchange exposed a deeper rift within the chamber — between those defending procedural flexibility and those insisting on strict adherence to parliamentary discipline.
Observers note this is not the first time Akpabio has been accused of bending the rules. He has repeatedly paused plenary sessions for private talks — a practice that, critics argue, contradicts Senate procedures and gives the impression of informal governance inside a formal legislative body.
And this is where the debate gets heated: Should the Senate President have the discretion to briefly suspend proceedings for urgent consultations, or does that undermine the spirit of open and transparent deliberation? The answer might depend on one’s interpretation of “urgency” and “decorum.”
What do you think — was Senator Goje right to call out his colleague in public, or was Akpabio merely exercising pragmatic leadership in a time-sensitive situation?
