Lawan, Akpabio in Explosive Confrontation During Senate Session
Emergency Session Erupts into Chaos as Akpabio, Lawan Spar
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On July 11, the Senate convened an emergency meeting due to a contentious dispute on the scheduled start time.
Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio were at odds.
As per the guidelines, meetings must begin at ten a.m.
However, because lawmakers frequently come late, sessions have been starting later—around 11 am or even later.
Even though the formal start time is 10 am, the Senate usually arranges to reconvene the next day at 11 am.
The Senate proposed to move the formal start time to 11 a.m. on Thursday.
Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader, proposed this concept.
Lawan was against the change when the Senate began debating it.
He questioned Akpabio, arguing that the House of Representatives' start time coincidence was insufficient justification and lacked a firm foundation.
Lawan maintained that there were no compelling arguments to move the hour and that lawmakers are more active and effective after 10 a.m.
He continued by saying that holding the meetings until 3 p.m., when committees ought to be in session, would be counterproductive.
Recalling that Lawan's 9th Senate established the 11 a.m. tradition, Akpabio said.
However Lawan disputed this, saying, “No, that is not correct!”
According to Akpabio, sessions might conclude as early as 1 pm; they didn't have to last until 3 pm.
Senator Bamidele pointed out that senators have a multitude of responsibilities, including oversight duties and committee work, which can keep them occupied until late at night, making it challenging to start plenary sessions at 10 am.
Akpabio promptly requested a private executive session to discuss the problems in order to defuse the situation.
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