The unresolved leadership crisis within the Senate is beginning to raise its head following a public confrontation between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele over Akpabio’s leadership style. A quarrel erupted at the hallow chamber during a plenary yesterday Wednesday when some political analyst described the brewing crisis in the red chamber between two key figures of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as unfortunate.
Although, controversial figures like Senator Ndume and his likes has accused the Akpabio style of leadership as being dictatorial in recent time which were dismissed as unfounded, but it was learned the political scheming that saw Akpabio through to Senate president in 2023 has remain unresolved.
The fresh face-off happened yesterday after Akpabio announced that the Senate would be proceeding on its annual recess, a decision that took the principal officers off-guard, who felt the matter should have first been discussed at the leadership level.
Some senators who were privy to what transpired said the misunderstanding among the leaders of the senate revealed the scene nearly ended up in disappointment.
According to one of the senators, who requested anonymity said the announcement by Akpabio led to an argument about whether the chamber had fulfilled its constitutional mandate of sitting for at least 181 days.
He revealed “An argument ensued on whether we have completed 181 days or not, and this is something they ought to have discussed among themselves at the leadership level”.
“Akpabio was saying that there will be NEC (National Executive Committee) meeting (of the APC) on Thursday, so we were supposed to sit on Wednesday to close ahead of the NEC meeting. As he was speaking, the Senate Leader stood up and raised a point of order, saying we are constitutionally supposed to sit for 181 days, and from what he sees, we have not completed those days,” the senator added.
Although, Senator Bamidele’s observation may be viewed as technically accurate, senators were reportedly surprised that he challenged the Senate President so openly.
Another lawmaker opined “It was wrong for him to do that in plenary. To be fair, Akpabio showed statesmanship by calmly cautioning him to approach the chair”.
The senator added that concerns had long existed over a lack of cohesion among presiding officers.
A lawmaker said, “We have always heard that he doesn’t carry the Senate leadership along. From the Deputy President of the Senate to the Senate Leader, they are all mostly not aware of it. Akpabio is more like a sole administrator; he goes to the Senate chamber directly and doesn’t hold leadership meetings regularly. That is where the problem is”.
Reacting to Senator Bamidele’s intervention, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) also raised concerns, criticizing the leadership for failing to meet beforehand to agree on a unified position. His remarks prompted Akpabio to call for an executive session to discuss the matter behind closed doors.
Accordingly, “Ndume’s comment appeared to have sparked deeper frustrations, leading to Bamidele to publicly express his dissatisfaction with Akpabio’s leadership.”
“When Akpabio began responding, it became obvious that the Deputy Senate President and the Senate Leader were on the same page. Akpabio, however, reminded them of his legislative and executive experience—as a two-term governor, minister, and senator—to justify his handling of the issue,” the source added.
In the end, Akpabio had his way, and the Senate adjourned for its annual recess. This was after Akpabio confirmed that the House of Representatives was also proceeding on break.
