The senator representing Gombe Central, Danjuma Goje, confronted Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, accusing him of engaging in actions he termed “unparliamentary conduct”.
Before Akpabio entered the chamber and assumed his seat, Jibrin Barau, the deputy senate president, had been overseeing the plenary session.
Upon taking his seat, Akpabio called Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, along with a few lawmakers for a private discussion, causing a delay of over 30 minutes in the plenary proceedings.
This occurred moments after Bamidele attempted to move a motion.
Goje, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stood up in frustration and referenced order 55(12)(a) of the senate standing rules, which bars lawmakers from engaging in side conversations during official proceedings.
He told Akpabio that “interaction is not allowed except to move the business that we have been called upon to do.”
The former Gombe governor added, “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.”
A surprised Akpabio asked Goje to approach the chair, but Goje refused, maintaining that the ongoing conversation was “illegal and unparliamentary”.
He repeated, “What I’m trying to say, Mr President, is that what is happening now is unparliamentary.”
He further insisted, “What you are doing here is unparliamentary. You should have done this outside. When we come to the parliament, we do parliamentary business.”
Goje noted that the senate’s activities were effectively “at a standstill” because of the side discussion.
Akpabio simply responded, “noted”.
Goje questioned this response, asking, “noted but not sustained?”
Although Akpabio tried to calm the situation, Goje maintained that the senators in the private meeting needed to return to their seats so the plenary could resume.
Akpabio explained that the discussion was about whether the plenary should continue since lawmakers had an “urgent assignment at the villa by 1pm.”
He again invited Goje to join the conversation.
Goje refused, saying, “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 later told the chamber that he was leaving for the presidential villa to attend the Armed Forces Remembrance emblem launch.