“Your Conduct Is Unacceptable, Unparliamentary” – Senator Goje Tells Senate President Akpabio

Senators drifted from their seats and formed small discussion clusters, leaving the chamber noisy and visibly disorganised.

A tense moment rippled through the Senate on Tuesday after Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) openly confronted Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of disrupting proceedings and engaging in “unparliamentary conduct.”

Akpabio arrived at the chamber around 12:10pm, while plenary was already underway under the gavel of Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin.

He took over smoothly as lawmakers considered scheduled bills. But within minutes, the session abruptly lost its rhythm.

The Senate President summoned Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele for what began as a private consultation at the chair.

The circle soon widened as Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), Titus Zam (Benue North-West), and Barau Jibrin gathered around him.

The conversation stretched for more than 40 minutes, effectively freezing the plenary.

Senators drifted from their seats and formed small discussion clusters, leaving the chamber noisy and visibly disorganised.

Dismayed by the interruption, Goje rose on a point of order, invoking Order 55 of the Senate Standing Rules, which bars private interactions that obstruct ongoing proceedings.

He said the gathering around the Senate President violated the decorum required of the chamber.

“Interaction is not allowed. What is happening now is unparliamentary,” Goje said.

“You (Akpabio) should have taken this meeting outside. They should follow him and meet him outside. When we come to parliament, we do parliamentary business. Everything is at a standstill.

“We are not doing our actual business. We should go on recess; when we are ready, we can return and meet you.”

When the Senate President responded and said his point of order was noted, Senator Goje insisted that his point of order be sustained and that the meeting should be ended immediately.

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