Ndume Tells Akpabio: ‘I Am a Senior Senator, You Can’t Stop Me From Speaking’

Following a heated verbal altercation between Senator Ali Ndume and Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday, tension momentarily erupted in the upper chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly, prompting the longtime politician to openly express his discontent.

After the plenary, Ndume provided his description of the incident in an interview that Channels Television aired.

The senator, who represents Borno North, called the interaction “unusual” and “embarrassing,” emphasizing that the Senate President’s role is to direct the proceedings rather than to end a debate or limit a member’s ability to contribute.

Ndume said that the Senate President’s mid-speech interference undermined parliamentary discourse and that it happened when he was making a statement on the Senate floor.

He claims that allowing each elected member to speak without excessive intervention is essential to maintaining the integrity of legislative conversation.

The Borno member further emphasized how shocked he was, citing his extensive experience and seniority in the assembly.

“Everything was out of the ordinary,” Ndume stated. I’ve served in the Senate long enough to know how these sessions ought to operate. The Senate President’s job is to lead, not to stop senators from speaking their minds.

He insisted that any question that needs to be clarified should be brought up after the senator has finished, not in the middle.

He said, “If anything I say needs clarification, it can be addressed afterwards, not during my speech.”

He cautioned that stopping a senator in the middle of their speech conveys risky information about floor privilege.

“I should be able to express my opinions when I am contributing. It should be known right away if a subject is delicate. “A senator must speak freely once the floor is given,” he contended.

Ndume specifically denounced statements that Akpabio was said to have made during the interruption.

“It becomes troubling when I am stopped mid-speech with comments like ‘don’t go there,'” he stated.

“If a subject is deemed sensitive, it should be disclosed right away. I shouldn’t be instructed to retreat once the floor is given to me.

“If there’s a problem, fix it when I’m done. Not while I’m giving birth.

Additionally, the senior member cautioned that procedural justice should not come across as biased, particularly when discussing national problems.

“The floor is provided when it is offered. It cannot be undone in the middle. He said, “That floor privilege is not selective.”