Following a heated verbal altercation between Senator Ali Ndume and Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday, tensions temporarily erupted in the upper house of Nigeria’s National Assembly, prompting the long-serving lawmaker to openly express his discontent.
After the plenary, the incident was made public when Ndume described it in an interview that Channels Television aired.
The senator, who represents Borno North, called the encounter “unusual” and “embarrassing,” emphasizing that the Senate President’s role is to direct the proceedings rather than to end a debate or limit a member’s ability to contribute.
Ndume claimed that the Senate President’s mid-speech interference undermined parliamentary discourse as he was making a contribution on the Senate floor.
He believes that allowing each elected member to speak without undue intervention is essential to maintaining the integrity of parliamentary conversation.
The Borno lawmaker further emphasized his surprise, citing his extensive experience and seniority in the legislature.
The entire event was unusual, according to Ndume. I’ve been in the Senate long enough to know how these sessions ought to operate. The Senate President’s job is to lead, not to stop senators from speaking out.
He insisted that any question that needs to be clarified should be brought up after a senator has finished, not in the middle.
He said, “If anything I say needs to be clarified, it can be addressed after, not during my speech.”
He cautioned that interrupting a senator in the middle of their speech sent harmful messages regarding floor privilege.
“I should be able to express my opinions when I’m contributing. It should be clear from the start whether a subject is delicate. A senator must speak freely once the floor is given, he contended.
Ndume specifically took issue with statements that Akpabio was said to have made during the interruption.
“It becomes troubling when I am stopped mid-speech with remarks like ‘don’t go there,'” he stated.
“If a subject is deemed delicate, it should be disclosed right away. I shouldn’t be instructed to retreat once the floor is provided.
“If there is a problem, fix it once I’m done. Not while I’m giving birth.
Additionally, the senior member cautioned that procedural justice shouldn’t come across as biased, particularly when discussing national problems.
“The floor is provided when it’s offered. It can’t be undone in the middle. He pointed out that the floor privilege is not selective.
