News

Crisis Hits Senate, Chief Whip Storms Out Of Session

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2023

The crisis of confidence among Senators came to a head, on Tuesday, as the Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, stormed out during plenary to protest the refusal of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to address alleged procedural errors.

In order to prevent the situation from degenerating further, Akpabio requested that his colleagues meet behind closed doors for further discussion.

Trouble started minutes after the commencement of the day’s session when the Chief Whip , Senator Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South ) , raised a point of order to draw the Senate President’s attention to alleged presedurial errors committed by him which were yet to be corrected.

Specifically, Ndume , referenced a motion on the need for re – opening of Nigeria – Niger Border which was moved by Senator Summaila Kawu ( NNPP Kano South ), which Akpabio allowed to be debated without first having the official title of the motion read as was the normal procedure.

Ndume, relying on Order order 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, requested that the Senate President should allow for the correction of any error made or observed during plenary .

He 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 proceedings…”

He had hardly completed expressing his thoughts when Akpabio interrupted by noting that, since he had ruled on issues raised , it can not be revisited. He subsequently ruled Ndume out of order.

Undaunted, another Senator, Sunday Karimi ( APC Kogi West ) , rose in defence of Ndume’s point of order by raising another point of order; but was equally ruled out of order by the Senate President.

In an attempt to douse the tension, which was reaching feverish pitch at this point , the Deputy President of the Senate , Jibrin Barau quickly raised order 16 , which requires a substantive motion to be moved by any Senator seeking to correct or review an earlier decision taken.

Akpabio sustained this order. This infuriated Ndume, who equally raised another point of order, specifically order 54 to seek for correction of the perceived error.

Again, Akpabio ruled him out of order without allowing him exhaust his line of thought.

At this point, Ndume had had enough, he picked his documents and a few other belongings and stormed out of the Senate Chamber.

His action which was obviously unexpected led the Senate into resolving to go into a closed session.

Incidentally, Ndume was the campaign manager for Akpabio during the race for Senate President in June.

This is happening at a time Senators are preparing to leave for Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital for retreat which begins on Wednesday.

Tension has been building up long before the Senate resumed from its long vacation in September.

There were speculations about moves to impeach the Seanate President and change the leadership.

This prompted the Senate Presodent’s Media Office to issue a statement dismissing the speculation as a figment of the imagination of the authors.

However, Senator Elijah Abbo, who was recently sacked by the judgement of an Appeal Court, issued a statement on behalf
of the powerful Northern Senators accusing Akpabio’s office of trying to pit them against President Bola Tinubu.

He, in fact, accused the Senate President’s Office of being the brains behind the alleged move against the Senate leadership.

There are momurs among Senators that Akpabio has been engaged in a series of gaffes which was allegedly adversely affecting the image of the Upper Chamber.

First, an announcement that money was as sent to their individual accounts for “the holidays,” then his “uncomfortable joke” about letting the poor breath.

VANGUARD

News

Senate Confirms New FCC Chairman, Approves 37 Commissioners

Published

7 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Hon. Ayo Omidiran, a former member of the House of Representatives, as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

At the same time, 37 commissioners representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were approved.

The confirmation followed the adoption of the report by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, presented by Chairman Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh.

He informed the Senate that all nominees had successfully passed thorough screenings, submitted required documents—including Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) clearances, police reports, DSS vetting, and curriculum vitae—and had no criminal petitions filed against them.

The Senate conducted a state-by-state review in the Committee of the Whole, which was adopted when lawmakers returned to plenary.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, addressing the chamber after the unanimous confirmation, urged the appointees to serve with dedication and uphold public trust.

“Go and serve in the interest of the nation. I congratulate all the nominees and wish them a successful tenure,” he said.

Notable appointees include Peter Ogbonna Eze (Enugu State) and AbdulWasiu Kayode Bawa-Allah (Lagos State), while Mohammed Musa was retained as Secretary of the Commission.

Other confirmed commissioners are: Obinna Oriaku (Abia); Lawal Ya’u Roni (Jigawa); Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi); Eludayo Eluyemi (Osun); Bema Olvadi Madayi (Adamawa); Dora Ebong (Akwa Ibom); Nnoli Nkechi Gloria (Anambra); Babangida Adamu Gwana (Bauchi); Sir Tonye Okio (Bayelsa); Aligba Eugene Tarkende (Benue); Engr. Modu Mustapha (Borno); Dr. Stella Odey Ekpo (Cross River); Ederin Lovette Idisi (Delta); Barr. Nwokpor Vincent Nduka (Ebonyi); Hon. Victor Sabor Edoror (Edo); Hon. Sola Fokanle (Ekiti); Ibrahim Baba Mairiga (Gombe); Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo); Ruth Jumai Ango (Kaduna); Muhammad Awwal Nayya (Kano); Hon. Anas Isah (Katsina); Bello Idris Eneye (Kogi); Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara); Alh. Isah Jibrin (Niger); Comrade Ajimudu Bola (Ondo); Prince Ayodeji Aleshinloye (Oyo); Hon. Pam Bolman (Plateau); Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers); Alh. Aminu Tambar (Sokoto); Bobboi Bala Kaigama (Taraba); Hon. Jibir Maigari (Yobe); Sani Garba (Zamfara); and Solomon Ayuba Dagami (FCT).

The Senate expressed confidence that the newly confirmed FCC leadership will enhance the commission’s capacity to promote equitable representation across Nigeria’s public institutions.

News

Tinubu Constitutes Membership For US–Nigeria Security Working Group

Published

7 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has approved the formation of the Nigerian delegation to the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a bilateral initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation on security matters.

The decision follows a recent visit to Washington DC by a high-level Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu will head the multi-agency team, which includes senior officials from key security and foreign policy institutions.

According to a statement signed by the President’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, members of the working group include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard M. Doro; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed; and Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.

“Ms Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser and Mr Paul Alabi of the Embassy of Nigeria in the US will serve as the secretariat,” the statement added.

Tinubu urged the team to engage closely with their American counterparts to ensure the implementation of security agreements reached during the visit. The working group is tasked with coordinating bilateral efforts on counter-terrorism, defence cooperation, and regional stability.

The initiative has gained prominence following recent remarks by US leadership. US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious-freedom violations and warned of possible military intervention should attacks on Christians persist, increasing pressure on the Nigerian government to strengthen its security response.

Bilateral cooperation
Recall that last week, a high-level Nigerian delegation led by Ribadu concluded a series of engagements with United States officials aimed at reinforcing bilateral security cooperation.

The discussions, held in Washington DC, involved senior representatives from the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War.

During the meetings, the Nigerian delegation rejected allegations of genocide in the country, emphasising that violent attacks affect communities across religious and ethnic lines.

“Wrongful framing of the situation would only divide Nigerians and distort the realities on the ground,” the delegation stated.

The United States expressed readiness to deepen security support, including enhanced intelligence sharing, expedited processing of defence equipment requests, and the potential provision of excess defence articles, subject to availability, to bolster ongoing counter-terrorism operations. Additional support in the form of humanitarian assistance and technical aid to strengthen early-warning mechanisms was also discussed.

Both nations agreed to implement a non-binding cooperation framework immediately and to establish a Joint Working Group to coordinate efforts across the agreed areas. The Nigerian delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to civilian protection measures and the safeguarding of vulnerable communities, particularly in the Middle Belt region.

The Nigerian delegation included Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation; General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff; Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence; Mr Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police; Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, Director of Foreign Relations at the Office of the National Security Adviser; and Ms Idayat Hassan, Special Adviser to the NSA.

The Federal Government highlighted that the engagements provided an opportunity to correct misconceptions about Nigeria, build trust, and advance a coordinated approach to protecting citizens.

It urged the public to remain assured that coordinated measures are being taken to enhance security nationwide.

News

Edo Assembly Invites Obaseki, Others For Questioning Over MOWAA

Published

9 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

The controversy surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and Radisson Hotel, remains unabated as Edo State House of Assembly Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the matter has invited a former governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki for questioning.

A statement by Secretary of the Ad-hoc Committee, Bekisu Oshone, on Thursday, stated that the former governor and others are expected to appear on December 4, 2025.

Other persons invited by the committee are a former Edo Finance Commissioner, Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General of Edo State, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, MOWAA’s Director, Philip Iheanacho and Managing Director, Tilbury House Nigeria Limited.

According to her, others invited are Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company, Pramod Thorat, Managing Director, Afrinvest Capital Limited, Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director, Meristem Trustees Limited and
Managing Director, Emerging Africa Trustees Limited.

The statement reads: “The Edo State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committee constituted to investigate the Museum of West African Arts and Radisson Hotel invites former Governor Godwin Obaseki and 10 others/organization (listed above) to appear before the committee for public hearing on December 4.”

She said attendance by Obaseki and others was required as part of the committee’s investigation.

The former governor and other invitees are expected to give insights into funding of the Radisson Hotel.

The MOWAA and Radisson Hotel were both conceptualized by Obaseki.

While first phase of the MOWAA has been completed, Radisson Hotel is near completion.

Recall that an exhibition at the museum turned chaotic on November 9 after angry protesters stormed the venue, forcing a high-profile event to shut down abruptly.

The preview opening, described as a private exhibition for investors, artists, and foreign envoys, quickly descended into panic when a mob claiming the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin breached parts of the premises.