Tensions Erupt in the Senate: Goje Calls Out Akpabio for 'Unparliamentary Conduct'
ABUJA – What began as a routine Senate sitting on Tuesday quickly turned chaotic when Senator Danjuma Goje of Gombe Central (APC) publicly confronted Senate President Godswill Akpabio over what he branded as an "unparliamentary act." The heated exchange threw the entire plenary into confusion and effectively halted proceedings for more than half an hour.
The drama unfolded shortly after Akpabio entered the chamber and reclaimed his seat from the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North), who had been presiding. Without delay, Akpabio called the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), along with several other key members, to gather near the chair for a private discussion.
But that move did not sit well with Goje.
Visibly irritated, the former Gombe State Governor stood up and raised a point of order, citing Order 55(12)(a) from the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended), which explicitly forbids any form of side conversations or interactions during plenary. “Mr. Senate President,” Goje said firmly, “interaction of this sort is not allowed while we are in session. You are disrupting the business of the Senate. This cannot continue.”
In response, Akpabio invited Goje to approach the chair for clarification. Goje flatly refused. “I will not take part in something that’s illegal and contrary to parliamentary procedure,” he shot back. Raising his voice for emphasis, he continued: “This is not how we conduct legislative business. Everything has come to a standstill because of this. We are not doing the work we came here to do.”
Akpabio’s brief reply of “Noted” only seemed to fuel Goje’s anger further. “Noted—but not sustained?” Goje pressed sarcastically. The tension in the chamber was palpable.
Despite Akpabio’s repeated attempts to calm his colleague—offering even an olive branch by inviting him to join the short meeting—Goje refused to yield. “Those meeting with you should return to their seats,” he insisted, “so that the Senate can proceed with its agenda.”
Trying to ease the tension, Akpabio explained that the short discussion was intended to determine whether the Senate should adjourn early due to an urgent engagement at the Presidential Villa scheduled for 1 p.m. “Please, Senator Goje,” Akpabio appealed, “approach the chair so you can also be part of the decision.”
Goje, however, doubled down: “I won’t be part of it. It’s wrong and against our rules. This should happen outside plenary.”
Akpabio later clarified that he was hurrying to attend the official launch of the Armed Forces Emblem at the Presidential Villa. But by then, the chamber’s atmosphere had already turned sour.
And this is where it gets controversial... Should a Senate President interrupt an ongoing session for an informal discussion, even if it concerns urgent national duties? Or was Goje right to challenge what he saw as a breach of parliamentary ethics?
What do you think—was Goje upholding the dignity of the Senate, or was he being unnecessarily confrontational? Share your perspective in the comments. This debate goes deeper than personalities—it’s about how power and procedure should coexist in a democratic legislature.
