Tension flared during the Senate’s return to plenary on Tuesday, marked by a chaotic scene as senators clashed over seats in the newly renovated Senate Chamber.
As the plenary began around 11 am, Senate President GodsWill Akpabio started with routine announcements, including acknowledging lawmakers who celebrated birthdays during the break.
The tranquility was shattered when Senator Sahabi Yau (APC, Zamfara North) raised his voice at Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
In response, Bamidele pointed a stern finger at Yau, igniting further tension in the chamber.
Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) joined Yau in confronting Bamidele and Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), the chairman of Senate Services responsible for seating arrangements.
The dispute revolved around the dissatisfaction with seating allocations, especially among senior senators assigned seats in the front row on the far right side of the aisle.
Despite Senate President Akpabio’s attempts to mediate, urging the aggrieved senators to address the issue individually, Senator Yau remained resolute, insisting on a collective resolution.
The commotion persisted for about 20 minutes, with senators engaged in heated arguments.
After Akpabio’s welcome-back speech, the Senate leader proposed a closed-door session, which received unanimous agreement.
At approximately 12:05 pm, the Senate reconvened for an executive session.
The Senate had previously adjourned on March 20 until April 16, with multiple postponements to facilitate the completion of the chamber’s renovation, which had been ongoing since 2022.