‘Your conduct is unacceptable’: Drama as APC senator Goje asks Akpabio to step down

There was a mild drama in the Senate as Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio to step down over ‘unparliamentary conduct.’

On Tuesday, Akpabio arrived in the chamber around 12:10 p.m. while plenary, presided over by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, was already in progress.

He smoothly took over as senators considered scheduled bills.

Barely ten minutes later, the Senate President summoned the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to his seat for a private consultation. Soon, other senators—including Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), Titus Zam (Benue North-West), and Barau Jibrin gathered around his chair.

The discussions, which lasted over 40 minutes, brought the plenary to a halt.

Many senators left their seats to chat among themselves, while others engaged in side conversations, leaving the chamber noisy and disorganised.

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Dissatisfied with the disruption, Goje raised a point of order, warning that prolonged private consultations during an active session violated Senate procedure.

He cited Order 55 of the Senate Standing Rules, which prohibits interruptions to ongoing proceedings, insisting that such discussions should be held outside the chamber.

“Interaction is not allowed. What is happening now is unparliamentary,” Goje said. “You should have taken this meeting outside. Everything is at a standstill; this is not our actual business.

“We should go on recess; when we are ready, we can return and meet you.”

Responding, Akpabio explained that he had invited the senators for a brief consultation on an urgent assignment scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Presidential Villa.

“Everybody you see here was invited by the chair for a brief discussion in continuation of today’s sitting and in line with the order you’ve just read, whether or not we should proceed in view of a very urgent assignment at the Villa,” he said.

Akpabio then asked Goje to approach the chair and join the discussion, an invitation the former governor declined.

“I don’t want to be part of it,” Goje replied.

Since assuming office, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has faced multiple confrontations with senators over his handling of chamber rules and leadership decisions.

In October 2023, Senator Ali Ndume accused Akpabio of bias and walked out of a plenary session, citing irregularities in how debates were presided over.

In July 2024, Ndume was removed as chief whip by the APC over critical comments about the government.

Other senators have also clashed with Akpabio. Tony Nwoye protested the imposition of minority leadership in November 2023, while Abdul Ningi, in March 2024, alleged undisclosed budget manipulations, leading to a temporary suspension.

In December 2024, Ireti Kingibe walked out after her motion on FCT demolitions was not entertained, though she later apologised.

In February 2025, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan protested a seat reassignment, raising allegations of harassment, which led to her suspension and subsequent court involvement.

In March 2025, Seriake Dickson confronted Akpabio over Rivers State’s emergency rule, accusing him of attempting to silence dissent.