Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Friday rebuked Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Patrick Ndubueze during plenary over what he described as a breach of the Senate’s procedural rules while deliberating on a motion.
The exchange occurred on Friday after Oshiomhole sought to include an additional prayer in a motion urging stricter enforcement of compliance with Senate invitations by heads of government agencies.
Presenting his submission, Oshiomhole said, “The committees of the Senate shall, in line with the provision of the Constitution, recommend to the Senate President who shall be obliged, in line with the Constitution, to issue a bench warrant or warrant of arrest on any agency that defaults. I want that to be specifically stated, and it should be done with decorum.”
Interrupting him, Akpabio said, “When you have additional prayers, you don’t go back into debates. That is the rule of the Senate. Any additional prayer, you move. You are going into debates.”
The Senate President then asked if there was a seconder for the motion, following which Senator Patrick Ndubueze indicated his support.
However, Akpabio also interrupted Ndubueze while he was speaking, insisting that his role was limited to seconding the motion.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry. Your time is up because…” Akpabio said.
When Ndubueze responded, “I’ve already moved the motion, I’ve already seconded,” Akpabio replied, “Your job is to second. Your job is not to…”
Turning to the senator, Akpabio added, “You’ve been here for three years and you still don’t read the rules. When you have additional prayer, you go to the additional prayer. By that time, debate is over.
“It is important for you to set a good example. As somebody who has been in the Senate for three years.”
After Ndubueze confirmed he had seconded the motion, Akpabio proceeded to put it to a voice vote.
“So you have seconded? … Okay, distinguished colleagues, since this motion is already in the rules… Those in support of this motion, say ‘Aye’. Those against, say ‘Nay’. The nays have it,” he declared.
The exchange came amid discussions on legislative oversight and the Senate’s constitutional powers to compel the attendance of heads of ministries, departments and agencies that fail to honour invitations by its committees.
The rebuke is the latest in a run of tense floor moments involving Akpabio and Oshiomole this week.
On Wednesday, Oshiomhole had accused the Senate President of breaching a truce both men signed after Akpabio referenced a viral video that purportedly showed the Edo North lawmaker massaging a woman’s legs on a private jet.
Akpabio apologised on the floor, explaining that his remark was directed at another senator’s reference to an earlier row over a shelved warrant of arrest, during which Oshiomhole had said a former oil company boss should be brought before the Senate “dead or alive.”
He assured Oshiomhole the truce stood, describing him as “my brother.”