Senate in closed session after Ndume walks out during plenary

A heated exchange of words erupted in the Senate on Tuesday, as Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) challenged the ruling of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on a motion concerning the Nigerian-Niger border.

The motion, moved by Senator Summaila Kawu (NNPP Kano South), called for a debate on the need to reopen the border, which has been closed since 2021. However, Ndume pointed out that Kawu did not state the title of his motion, as required by the Senate standing rules.

Ndume invoked order 51 to request Akpabio to allow for correction of any error made or observed in plenary.

He said, “This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guided by laws, rules and procedures. If in the course of proceedings at any session, errors are observed, they must be corrected before forging ahead with such proceeding.”

Akpabio dismissed Ndume’s point of order, saying that he had already ruled on the issue and it could not be revisited. He also ruled out another point of order raised by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC Kogi West), who tried to support Ndume’s argument.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, intervened by citing order 16, which requires a substantive motion to be moved by any Senator for correction or review of an earlier decision taken. Akpabio agreed with Barau and asked for such a motion to be moved.

Ndume then rose again under order 54 to seek correction of the perceived error. But Akpabio cut him short and ruled him out of order for the third time.

This infuriated Ndume, who packed his documents and furiously stormed out of the chamber.

The Senators quickly went into a closed-door session, which lasted for over an hour.