Kingibe Walks Out of Senate After Akpabio Blocks Motion on FCT Demolitions

A dramatic moment played out in the Senate on Thursday as Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), walked out of the chamber after Senate President Godswill Akpabio refused to entertain her motion on the ongoing demolitions in Abuja.

Kingibe had earlier informed the Senate on Wednesday of her plan to move a motion calling for an investigation into the demolitions, and it was agreed that the matter would be discussed the next day. However, when proceedings began on Thursday, the motion was not listed on the order paper. Kingibe brought this to her colleagues’ attention, but Akpabio ruled that the Senate could only consider one motion on matters of urgent public importance per day, as stipulated by procedural rules.

Akpabio suggested that Kingibe could reintroduce the motion formally on another day or seek the chamber’s consent to raise it. “The Senate cannot go back once we have started the orders of the day,” he said.

Frustrated by the decision, Kingibe stormed out of the chamber. She later returned to issue an apology for her actions and was eventually allowed to present her motion. This led to a Senate resolution to investigate the demolitions in the FCT.

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, has intensified demolitions of “illegally” constructed estates and shanties in recent months, citing security concerns in the nation’s capital.