Senate erupts into noisy session over leadership roles

The Senate briefly turned into a noisy session over the announcement of Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) as Minority Whip by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Yesterday’s session began on a usually cordial note, with everything proceeding as planned, with announcements, motions, and other orders of the day’s business.

The Senate president then read out a letter from the minority caucus announcing the selection of Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) as Minority Leader.

However, the atmosphere in the Senate changed when he announced Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) as a minority whip.

Akpabio said the two new minority leaders were backed by a majority of their colleagues in opposition parties.

He said 41 minority senators signed the document supporting Moro as minority leader, while 30 endorsed Ngwu for the minority whip seat.

The announcement sparked loud protests from Labour Party senators who felt their party was being ignored.

The PDP holds the majority in the opposition with over 30 senators, while the Labour Party has seven; the SDP and NNPP have two senators each; and the APGA has one.

Senator Okechukwu Ezea (LP, Enugu North) raised a point of order to protest the absence of his party in the minority leadership.

Ezea said: “At the minority meeting from which we just came out, Abba Moro was approved, but on the position of minority whip, we agreed to schedule another meeting because the leadership has to be shared fairly.

“There is no way we will have four leadership seats for the minority in this Senate, and the PDP will take three of the seats. The next party is the Labour Party with seven senators, and we get nothing; that is unfair, that is unjust, that is unacceptable, and that is against the spirit of the Nigerian constitution.

“How can the PDP take three minority leadership seats? This is unfair, unjust, and unacceptable.”

Ruling on Ezea’s point of order, Akpabio said: “That is the PDP. If you were talking about the APC, I am sure they would have been fair and considerate.

”I am in total sympathy with the Labour Party; I am in total sympathy with the minority party, the SDP, and others.

“Tempers flared and voices were raised, leading to a rowdy session as senators from all sides tried to outshout one another.

Amid the commotion that ensued, Senator Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North) accused Akpabio of choosing minority leaders for the opposition parties.

He said, “How can you be selecting minority leaders for us? Are we your slaves?” Nwoyi confronted the Senate president.

Lawmakers from the ruling party joined the fray while some tried to calm their colleagues from LP; others approached Akpabio for consultations on how to resolve the deadlock.

After about 16 minutes, the Senate president restored order before addressing opposition lawmakers.