Senators Fight Over Sitting Positions In Renovated Chamber
The Senate which resumed on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 witnessed a rowdy session that almost resulted in fisticuffs following disagreement over sitting arrangement in the renovated upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The development kick started shortly after the start of plenary at about 11:00am shortly after the prayers and announcements by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio which included the names of Senators who celebrated their birthdays while the Senate was on recess.
While the announcement were being made by the Senate President, Senator Sahabi Yau (APC, Zamfara North) called the attention of the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) by pointing fingers at him telling him that the seat he allotted to him was not deserving of his status as a ranking Senator and a former principal officer.
In a sharp reaction, Senator Bamidele also pointed fingers at Senator Yau indicating that he was giving him warning.
Following the development, Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) took side with Senator Yau in shouting at Bamidele and the chairman, Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) who was in charge of the seating arrangements.
Some of the ranking Senators were believed to have been infuriated over the allocation of the seats that showed a deviation from the norm as some believe that Bamidele used his position to favour some of his friends from a particularly geo-political zone of the country.
As the rowdy session which lasted for about 20 minutes was degenerating to a volatile situation, the Senate President had to direct them to approach the chair one after the other but Yau refused to oblige.
The development led to a closed door session immediately after the Senate President read his speech to welcome senators back from recess.
Accordingly, the Senate at about 12: 05 pm, moved into an executive session.
The Senate on March 20, adjourned plenary till April 16, but later postponed its resumption twice to allow for the completion of the chamber which had been under renovation since 2022.
