Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), walked out of the Senate on Thursday, December 12, after Senate President Godswill Akpabio declined to entertain her motion on the ongoing demolitions in the nation’s capital.
Kingibe had previously informed the Senate of her intent to raise a motion to probe the demolitions, with an agreement to discuss it the following day. However, when her motion was not listed on the order paper, she brought it up during the session.
In response, Akpabio explained, “We’ve already addressed a matter of urgent public importance, and by our rules, only one can be taken per day.” He added, “You can always raise it again, and we can consider it as a formal motion the next day.”
He further emphasized, “It’s not on the order paper, and we can’t go back once we’ve started the day’s proceedings.”
Frustrated, Kingibe walked out of the chamber in protest but later returned to apologize for her actions. After her apology, she was allowed to move her motion, and the Senate agreed to investigate the demolitions in the FCT.
The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), under FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has stepped up demolitions of estates and shanties deemed “illegally” constructed, with Wike defending the actions as necessary for national security.
