‘Don’t wash our dirty linen in public’ — Abbas shuts down debate on lawmakers’ conduct at plenary

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, has cautioned a lawmaker against commenting on the conduct of legislators in public.

Ifeanyi Uzokwe, lawmaker representing Nnewi north/Nnewi south/Ekwusigo federal constituency of Anambra, had raised a point of order to address the lack of decorum during Thursday’s plenary.

“Every day we come here, Mr Speaker, we receive our children and visitors in the gallery. Why are they here? They are here to see how we conduct ourselves and learn from us,” Uzokwe said.

“But most times, what we display here is not what they should see as an example of parliamentarians. Mr Speaker, I love you, I love the leadership of this house, and we are united — but we must conduct ourselves.”

While Uzokwe was still speaking, Abbas interrupted him, saying the matter should be handled in an executive session.

“If what we are going to discuss pertains to this chamber, we can do it in an executive session,” the speaker said.

“We don’t need to wash our dirty linen in public. I don’t understand what we stand to gain. You can request an executive session to address issues about our conduct. This is not the forum for that. I appeal to you to withdraw.”

Uzokwe reluctantly yielded after Abbas appealed for the matter to be dropped.

BACKGROUND

Earlier during plenary, Abdulmumin Jibrin, member representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency of Kano, formally defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jibrin, a close ally of Rabiu Kwankwaso, NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate and former governor of Kano, cited leadership crises in the NNPP as his reason for leaving.

Sagir Koki, lawmaker representing Kano Municipal federal constituency, also announced his defection from the NNPP.

Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president; Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader; Tahir Monguno, senate chief whip; Nentawe Yilwatda, APC national chairman; and Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kano governor, were among several APC chieftains present in the green chamber to witness the defections.

After Abbas read the letters of defection, the Jibrin, Koki and party leaders gathered around the speaker’s seat for photographs, momentarily halting legislative business as APC members celebrated.

While the ceremony was ongoing, opposition lawmakers — including Uzokwe — attempted to raise points of order to protest the defections, but the speaker ignored them.

Since the turn of the year, it has become frequent for governors and APC leaders to attend legislative plenaries, often to witness lawmakers formally defecting to the ruling party.