Senate Whip Ndume walks out of plenary- The Full Drama (video)

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday went into a lengthy closed session after its Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, stormed out of the plenary session citing errors committed which were not redressed.

Barely ten minutes after the commencement of the plenary, the Borno South Senator, raised a point of order on alleged errors which were not corrected by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

The error, according to Ndume, was a motion moved by Senator Summaila Kawu for debate on the need for Re – opening of Nigeria – Niger Border, without reading the title of his motion.

Ndume who cited order 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, requested the Senate President to allow for correction of any error made or observed in the plenary.

But Akpabio quickly intercepted him by saying that having ruled on issues raised, it cannot be revisited and consequently ruled Ndume out of order.

The Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, had attempted to sustain Ndume’s line of argument through another point of order but was also ruled out of order by the Senate President.

In a trouble shooting effort , the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau quickly rose to read order 16 which requires a substantive motion to be moved by any Senator for correction or review of earlier decisions taken.

Sustaining Barau’s point of order by Akpabio, infuriated Ndume by raising another point of order (order 54) to seek for correction of the perceived error.

But without being allowed to make a full presentation of his argument , the President of the Senate ruled him out of order again .

Angered by Akpabio’s decision , Ndume packed his documents and furiously stormed out of the chamber .

Apparently, worried by the scenario, Senators hurriedly went into the closed door meeting.

SPEAKERS

Sen. Ali Ndume-Borno North

Sen. Jibrin Barau-DSP

Sen. Ali Ndume-Borno North

Sen. Godswill Akpabio-Senate President