Tensions escalated during the Senate’s plenary session on Tuesday as senators engaged in a heated dispute over seating arrangements. The session commenced at 11 am with Senate President GodsWill Akpabio announcing birthdays of lawmakers celebrated during the break. Amidst this, Senator Sahabi Yau of APC, Zamfara North, raised his voice at Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele of APC, Ekiti Central, who responded by pointing a stern finger at Yau.
Immediately, Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) joined his colleague Yau in shouting at Bamidele and the chairman, of Senate Services, Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) who was in charge of the seating arrangements.
The fight was triggered by the seating arrangement in the newly renovated hallow chamber.
Some ranking Senators were said to have been angry at the seats allocated to them in the front row on the last right side of the aisle.
The Senate President eventually told them to approach the chair one after the other but Yau didn’t oblige him.
The rowdy session lasted for about 20 minutes as senators bickered.
After the Senate President read his welcome-back speech, the Senate leader, moved that the Senate resolved into a closed-door session.
The Senate after that, at about 12: 05 pm resolved into an executive session.
The Senate had on March 20, adjourned plenary till April 16, but postponed resumption twice to allow for the completion of the chamber which had been under renovation since 2022.
