Proceedings at the Senate on Tuesday afternoon were abruptly halted after the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, staged a walkout after being ruled out of order by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Ndume had cited Order 54 of the Senate Standing Orders to raise a point of order on how Akpabio was directing the proceedings of the Senate.
He drew the attention of the Senate President to his handling of affairs in the chambers, which he said did not agree with the rules.
“Mr. President, there are some things we do in this chamber that are against the rules. Sir, nobody is too big to learn….” Ndume said.
At this point, Akpabio interjected and called for a copy of the Senate Standing Orders.
He proceeded to read Order 54 and said it did not support the point Ndume was making and, after that, ruled the Principal Officer out of order.
Upon the action of the Senate President, Ndume, who was visibly angry, packed his files and papers on his desk and, stormed out of the Chamber and went straight to his office.
It was learnt that as the Chief Whip was settling down at his office, he received a call from a colleague to return to the chamber for an executive session.
The video of the event can be viewed below:
GOOD SENATOR NDUME
If he is behaving undemocratic, and stiff-necked. Make arrangements according to the law and send him packing ! He should comply with the tenets of the law.