The session turned chaotic following disagreements over whether Abaribe’s motion, presented under Order 41 and Order 51, should be accepted.
Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abba Moro, Ned Nwoko, and several others walked out of the Senate plenary on Wednesday after Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele blocked Abaribe from moving a motion to immortalize the late former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
The session turned chaotic following disagreements over whether Abaribe’s motion, presented under Order 41 and Order 51, should be accepted.
Abaribe stated that the motion was sponsored by himself, Senator Abba Moro, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and Senator Austine Akobundu.
He was interrupted by the Deputy Senate President, who was presiding over the session in the absence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while attempting to present the motion.
Order 41: ‘Matter for discussion and Matter of urgent public importance’, which pertains to personal explanations by senators, provided that matter for discussion shall, if possible, be referred to the President of the Senate before the commencement of the day’s sitting.
However, the Deputy Senate President representing Kano North Senatorial District on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) declined Abaribe’s request.
Barau declared the motion controversial, expressing doubt about approving it before allowing Abaribe to speak.
Also, Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele representing Ekiti Central under APC, argued that the order cited by Abaribe was inappropriate, stating that the Senate had already moved too far along in its agenda to consider the motion.
Maintaining his stand, Abaribe said, “We are not under a dictatorship,” and insisted that his point of order be heard.”
Citing Order 1(b), he argued that in cases not specifically provided for in the standing orders, the Senate has the discretion to regulate its procedure.
“Even if the Senate Leader says it doesn’t follow, the fact remains that when a senator seeks to make a personal explanation, that senator must be given the chance,” Abaribe insisted.
Reacting, former Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cautioned that the Senate was drifting toward dictatorship by preventing senators from expressing their views due to conflicts in Senate rules.
He insisted that Abaribe be allowed to present his motion, saying, “We have been managing this Senate for a long time.
“What you are trying to establish is a very dangerous precedent. Presentation of order and passing of motion can be raised at any point of the proceedings of the Senate.
“Don’t make it a rule because if you do so, you will be denying a lot of us, almost the entire Senate any opportunity to interject and intervene when things are going wrong.
“Therefore, for you to say that it had to come at a certain point under Order 38 is absolutely wrong. At no time has this particular kind of saying come in, to deny members an opportunity to raise a point of order.
“And also expect personal opinions and personal matters not to be raised under Order 10 is to truncate the independence of senators and to not allow them to interject in the proceedings of the Senate to raise issues that are very implemental and fundamental to them and their constituencies.
“I think the position that is advocated by our Senate Leader is not correct.”
However, in response, Barau upheld the Senate Leader’s stance, rejecting Abaribe’s motion.
He referred to Order 42, which states that a senator may make a personal explanation “by the indulgence of the Senate and with the leave of the President of the Senate,” but “no controversial matter may be brought forward.”
Barau also said that Abaribe had initially sought approval to bring the motion under Orders 41 and 51, which was denied.
He argued that Abaribe’s switch to Order 42 was improper and had not been previously discussed with Senate leadership.
Senator Bamidele thereafter suggested that Abaribe bring the motion on a different legislative day, stating that “Order 1(b) cannot override the clear provisions of the standing orders.”
In their voice voting, the lawmakers sustained Bamidele’s suggestion, advising Abaribe to reintroduce the motion at a later date.
Meanwhile, Abaribe, Ned Nwoko, and some other senators were seen walking out of the Senate while the voice vote was being conducted.
Prof. Nwosu was Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), who oversaw the June 12, 1993 election won by the late MKO Abiola, but was annulled by then-military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.).
Nwosu, who introduced the Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system during his tenure as NEC Chairman, passed away on October 24, 2024, in the United States at the age of 83.
He will be buried on March 28.
Despite his role in Nigeria’s democratic history, the debate over whether to officially honour his contributions remains unresolved in the Senate.