The Senate’s Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, exited the chamber on Tuesday, October 17, after being ruled to be out of order, prompting the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to call an urgent closed-door meeting of the Senate during plenary.
Ndume (APC Borno South) raised a point of order about purported mistakes that Senate President Godswill Akpabio allegedly made and failed to correct.
Ndume incorrectly stated the title of a motion introduced by Senator Summaila Kawu (NNPP Kano South) for discussion on the necessity of reopening the Nigerian-Niger border.
Ndume who rose through order 51 of the Senate standing rules, requested the Senate President to allow for correction of any error made or observed in plenary.
Ndume said, “This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guided by laws, rules and procedures. If in the course of proceedings at any session, errors are observed, they must be corrected before forging ahead with such proceeding.”
But Akpabio quickly intercepted him by saying having ruled on issues raised, it can not be revisited and consequently ruled Ndume out of order.
Senator Sunday Karimi (APC Kogi West), spiritedly attempted to sustain Ndume’s line of argument through another point of order but was also swiftly ruled out of order by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
In a troubleshooting effort, the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, quickly rose to read order 16, which requires a substantive motion to be moved by any Senator for correction or review of the earlier decision taken.
Sustaining Barau’s point of order by Akpabio, infuriated Ndume by raising another point of order (order 54) to seek correction of the perceived error.
But without being allowed to make a full presentation of his argument, the President of the Senate ruled him out of order again.
Angered by Akpabio’s decision, Ndume, packed his documents and furiously stormed out of the chamber.
