Why I Left Chamber After Clash with Akpabio – Ndume

In a recent incident during a Senate session, Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has shed light on the reasons behind his sudden departure from the chamber after a confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

During the plenary session, Senator Ndume drew the Senate’s attention to perceived violations within the chamber. He invoked a point of order to address what he deemed to be “procedural infringements” that ran counter to established parliamentary protocol.

However, when Senator Ndume attempted to complete his speech, Senate President Akpabio refused to allow him to do so, leading to the Senator’s decision to exit the chamber.

In a subsequent interview with BBC Hausa, Senator Ndume elaborated on the circumstances that prompted his departure. The incident unfolded during a debate related to the closure of Nigeria’s borders.

Ndume explained that Senator Kawu Sumaila had proposed an urgent motion to close the border between Nigeria and Niger. While there was initial debate on the urgency of the motion, the Senate President permitted Senator Sumaila to express his views.

After hearing the motion, it was collectively decided that, given its implications for security, the discussion should be temporarily suspended. It was at this juncture that Senator Ndume sought to elucidate the significance of the motion to the chamber. However, Senate President Akpabio denied him the opportunity to speak on the matter.

Senator Ndume clarified, “I wanted to highlight that the motion, while impactful, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Senate. The decision to close the border was not initiated by the President of Nigeria but during his tenure as the President of ECOWAS. Consequently, he possesses the authority to advocate on our behalf.”

He further emphasized the need to involve the President of Nigeria in addressing the issue but was unable to convey this message due to being denied the opportunity to speak. Coincidentally, this unfolded during the time allocated for prayer, which prompted Senator Ndume’s departure. He communicated his intention to pray to his deputy before leaving the chamber, resulting in some of his colleagues and journalists misinterpreting his exit.