Rowdy session in Senate as Goje accuses Akpabio of ‘unparliamentary conduct’

The Senate erupted into a rowdy session on Tuesday after the lawmaker representing Gombe Central District, Senator Danjuma Goje, openly confronted Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over what he described as an “unparliamentary act” during plenary.

The chamber, which had settled into routine business under the gavel of Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North), was thrown into confusion shortly after Akpabio entered the chamber and took over proceedings.

No sooner had he assumed the chair than he summoned Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) and a few other senators for a side meeting at the dais.

The move infuriated Goje, a former governor of Gombe State, who immediately rose to challenge the Senate President, citing Order 55 (12)(a) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended), which bars such interactions during plenary.

“Interaction is not allowed except to move the business that we have been called upon to do.

“Mr Senate President, what you are doing is unparliamentary. You are disturbing the business of the Senate.

“You cannot be holding a separate meeting when the Senate is in session,” Goje declared.

Akpabio invited Goje to approach the chair for clarification, but the Gombe lawmaker flatly refused.

“What I’m trying to say, Mr President, is that what is happening now is unparliamentary. What you are doing here is unparliamentary. You should have done this outside.

“When we come to the parliament, we do parliamentary business.

“What we are doing here, everything is at a standstill now. We are not doing business,” he fumed.

The Senate President responded with a curt, “Noted.”

His response drew a sharp retort from Goje.

“Noted but not sustained?” he quizzed.

Despite efforts by Akpabio to calm tempers, including an offer for Goje to join the brief consultation, the former governor stood his ground, insisting that “the senators holding a meeting with the Senate President should leave there so that the Senate will move on.”

In a bid to douse tension, Akpabio explained that the lawmakers were invited for a brief consultation “in continuation of today’s sitting and in line with the order you have just read, whether or not we should proceed in view of a very urgent assignment at the Villa by one o’clock.”

The Senate President further informed the chamber that he was expected at the Presidential Villa for the launch of the Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem.

But Goje remained adamant.

“I don’t want to be part of it. I’m opposed to this one. I will not come. It’s unparliamentary. It’s wrong,” he fumed.

For more than 30 minutes, the plenary ground to a halt as the confrontation lingered, with senators intermittently rising and murmuring as the chamber struggled to regain order.

Tuesday’s confrontation adds to a growing list of tensions involving Senate President Akpabio since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

In July 2025, reports emerged of a heated exchange between Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele during a closed-door executive session on July 23.

The alleged face-off, reportedly linked to internal wrangling and concerns over Akpabio’s leadership style, fuelled speculation that cracks were widening within the Senate’s top hierarchy.

However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed the claims as “baseless and misleading,” insisting that no such altercation occurred.