Uproar erupted during the first day of Senate’s plenary in the newly renovated red chamber as Senators engaged in a verbal altercation over seating arrangements on Tuesday.
Following the formal reopening of both chambers of the National Assembly after about two years of renovation work, Senators reconvened in the remodeled chambers.
Trouble began when Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, began reading the names of Senators who celebrated their birthdays during the vacation.
Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u (APC, Zamfara North) stood up from his seat to address his dissatisfaction with the seating arrangement to Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
What started as a quiet complaint quickly escalated into a heated exchange, sparking reactions from other Senators and leading to a chaotic 30-minute session.
Senator Ya’u, visibly frustrated, argued that his new seat, positioned in the far right corner of the chamber, did not befit his status as a ranking Senator who previously held a principal position as Deputy Minority Whip during the 9th National Assembly.
The tension intensified as Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) joined the fray, echoing concerns about the seating arrangement for ranking Senators.
To restore order, the Senate President intervened, inviting the Senate Leader and the aggrieved Senators to approach him. After they complied, normalcy was restored, allowing Akpabio to deliver his welcome address.
Following the address, the Senate Leader called for an emergency closed-door session, presumably to address the simmering discontent among Senators regarding the seating arrangement.
