‘It’s unparliamentary’ — Danjuma Goje tackles Akpabio for holding side meeting during plenary

Danjuma Goje, senator representing Gombe central, on Tuesday, confronted Senate President Godswill Akpabio over what he described as “unparliamentary conduct”.

Jibrin Barau, deputy senate president, was presiding over the plenary before Akpabio walked into the chamber and took his seat.

After taking his seat, Akpabio summoned Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, and some lawmakers for a private discussion, which stalled the plenary for more than 30 minutes.

This happened shortly after Bamidele attempted to move a motion.

Goje, a senator on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), rose angrily and cited order 55(12)(a) of the senate standing rules, which prohibits side conversations during proceedings.

The senator told Akpabio that “interaction is not allowed except to move the business that we have been called upon to do.”

“Mr Senate President, what you are doing is unparliamentary. You are disturbing the business of the senate. You cannot be holding a separate meeting when the senate is in session,” the former Gombe governor said.

A stunned Akpabio invited Goje to approach the chair, but he declined and insisted that the discussion was “illegal and unparliamentary”.

“What I’m trying to say, Mr President, is that what is happening now is unparliamentary,” he said.

“What you are doing here is unparliamentary. You should have done this outside. When we come to the parliament, we do parliamentary business.”

He said senate activities were “at a standstill” because of the conversation.

Akpabio responded by saying, “noted”.

Goje queried the remark, asking, “noted but not sustained?”

Despite efforts by Akpabio to pacify him, Goje insisted that the senators holding the meeting should return to their seats so the plenary could continue.

Akpabio said the lawmakers were discussing whether plenary should proceed given a scheduled “urgent assignment at the villa by 1pm.

He again asked Goje to join the discussion.

“I don’t want to be part of it. I’m opposed to this one. I will not come. It’s unparliamentary. It’s wrong,” Goje retorted.

Akpabio later informed the chamber that he was heading to the presidential villa for the Armed Forces Remembrance emblem launch.