There was a heated session in the Senate on Tuesday after Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) openly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of engaging in “unparliamentary” conduct during plenary.
The tension began shortly after Akpabio walked into the chamber and took over from Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who had been presiding. Upon assuming his seat, Akpabio summoned Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and a few senators for a side meeting — an action Goje immediately challenged.
Raising a point of order under Senate Standing Orders 2023 (Order 55, Rule 12(a)), Goje insisted that interactions at the chair were prohibited during plenary except for officially scheduled business. He accused Akpabio of disrupting proceedings.
“Mr. Senate President, what you are doing is unparliamentary. You cannot be holding a separate meeting when the Senate is in session,” Goje said, refusing Akpabio’s invitation to join the discussion.
The session stalled for over 30 minutes as Goje maintained his stance, insisting that the senators gathered around Akpabio should step away for plenary to continue.
Akpabio attempted to pacify him, explaining that the brief consultation was to determine whether the Senate would proceed with business due to an urgent assignment at the Presidential Villa — the Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem launch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Despite Akpabio’s explanation and invitation, Goje declined, stating firmly: “I don’t want to be part of it. I’m opposed to this. It’s wrong.”
The chamber eventually calmed after Akpabio agreed to disperse the senators around the chair so plenary could proceed.
