On Tuesday, April 30, the Senate reconvened after a break for Easter and Sallah. The session was nearly chaotic, with senators literally fighting over seats.
After Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, entered the chamber and took a seat, the plenary began at approximately 11:00 a.m.
Following the statutory prayers, Akpabio read out the names of the senators who had their birthdays during the Senate’s recess.
Senator Sahabi Ya’u (APC-Zamfara North) was seen speaking loudly to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti Central) during the announcement. Bamidele responded by pointing fingers at Ya’u, seemingly to warn him of something.
Sen. Sunday Karimi (APC – Kogi West), the chairman of the Senate Services Committee, and Bamidele, who oversees Senate seating arrangements, were immediately yelled at by Senator Danjuma Goje (APC – Gombe Central) and his colleague, Ya’u.
Later on, it was discovered that the commotion was caused by the senators’ new sitting arrangement in the Senate’s newly renovated chamber.
It was reported that a some ranking senators were upset about the front row seats on the last right side of the aisle that were assigned to them.
Sen. Ya’u did not seem to want to approach the chair one after the other, but the Senate president eventually managed to defuse the situation by telling the irate senators to do so.
Senators argued during the boisterous 20-minute session.
The Senate Leader then moved to call for the Senate to enter an executive session, which is always held behind closed doors, after the Senate President had finished reading his welcome address.
The Senate Leader then moved to call for the Senate to enter an executive session, which is always held behind closed doors, after the Senate President had finished reading his welcome address.
By 12:05 p.m., the executive session had commenced.
The Senate adjourned plenary on March 20 until April 16, but it postponed its resumption twice to enable the chamber’s renovations, which had been ongoing since 2022, to be completed.
