The Nigerian Senate has adjourned plenary sittings until September 23, 2025, marking the end of the current legislative year. The adjournment followed a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and seconded by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP–Benue) during Thursday’s session.
Before the motion was adopted, the Senate had entered a closed-door executive session that lasted over an hour. Sources familiar with the session disclosed that it was marked by intense disagreements among Senate leadership over the timing of the adjournment, with tempers flaring and tensions threatening to boil over.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, announcing the recess, clarified that plenary activities were being suspended, not halted, and directed all standing and ad hoc committees to use the two-month break to conclude pending reports ahead of resumption. He also urged lawmakers to return to their constituencies to inspect ongoing projects.
“This marks the end of the legislative year. All committees are expected to intensify their oversight functions during the recess,” Akpabio said.
However, behind the scenes, events were far more dramatic. Multiple sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that the Senate President and the Senate Leader had engaged in a heated shouting match during the closed-door session. The clash reportedly stemmed from longstanding frustrations over Akpabio’s leadership style and lack of consultation with key figures in the chamber.
Senator Ali Ndume was said to have sparked the disagreement by criticising the leadership for failing to convene a prior meeting to harmonise views before raising the adjournment issue on the floor. His remarks reportedly prompted Senator Bamidele to voice deep frustrations.
“I am frustrated as Senate Leader working under Senate President Akpabio,” Bamidele was quoted as saying. “He does not call leadership meetings, he doesn’t consult with anyone. He is autocratic. In fact, I am contemplating resigning as Senate Leader.”
Akpabio, visibly enraged, reportedly fired back, “Senator Opeyemi should sit down! He cannot speak while I am speaking. I am in charge here. I have served as Commissioner, two-term Governor, Senate Minority Leader, and a powerful Minister. I know the Senate rules and leadership more than you.”
According to sources, the confrontation nearly escalated into a physical altercation before cooler heads prevailed and the session was brought back to order.
This is not the first time reports of friction between Akpabio and Bamidele have surfaced. In November 2024, similar claims of an altercation were dismissed by Bamidele’s office as “fake news,” after reports circulated alleging a physical fight between the two.
As of press time, the Senate has not issued an official statement on Thursday’s incident. Efforts to reach the Senate’s spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, were unsuccessful, as his phone line was unreachable.
Meanwhile, senators are expected to travel to Jos on Friday for the burial of the wife of their colleague, Senator Diket Plang.
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