Ndume storms out of senate chamber after Akpabio rules him out of order

Ali Ndume, chief whip of the senate, on Tuesday stormed out of the red chamber after he was ruled out of order by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Ndume had cited order 54 of the standing rules to draw attention to the manner Akpabio presides over the affairs of the senate.

The Borno senator said proceedings under Akpabio are most times not in line with the standing rules of the senate.

“There are some things we do in this chamber that are against our rules,” he said.

“Nobody is too big to learn…”

He had barely aired his thoughts when the senate president ruled him out of order, citing the same section of the rule book.

Ndume left the chamber in a huff afterwards.

Thereafter, the senate went into a closed session.

Last week, Ndume was among senators who complained that Akpabio does not allow them make meaningful contributions to important bills.

‘FIRST BRUSH WITH AKPABIO’

In August, the Borno senator expressed dismay over a statement made by the senate president.

Shortly before the national assembly embarked on its annual recess, Akpabio announced on the floor that money had been sent to senators to enjoy their holidays.

Speaking with BBC Hausa service at the time, Ndume said like any employee, senators are entitled to leave allowances, adding that “drastic” action would be taken against Akpabio if he keeps making such utterances.

“He made a very wrong statement, and I warned him immediately that his comments were unbecoming of an elder,” he had said.

“In fact, we are even planning to take drastic action against him if he continues making unguarded statements and acting as if we are kids.”