A tense moment unfolded during Thursday’s Senate plenary when Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), walked out in anger after Senate President Godswill Akpabio blocked her motion on demolitions in Abuja.
The session, which had been progressing without incident, turned heated when Senator Kingibe was denied the opportunity to raise her concerns about the ongoing demolitions in the FCT. This sparked a verbal exchange, culminating in her storming out of the chamber.
The situation was eventually diffused after other senators intervened, appealing to the Senate President to allow Kingibe to return and present her motion. She reentered the chamber after a few minutes but was instructed by the Senate President to apologise for her actions.
Initially, Senator Kingibe resisted apologising but later complied following Akpabio’s insistence.
In her motion, Senator Kingibe criticised the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, for carrying out widespread demolitions. She claimed the exercise targeted illegal structures and undeveloped allocated plots but lacked adherence to due legal processes.
Kingibe highlighted the significant hardship and financial losses caused by the demolitions, stating that properties worth billions of naira had been destroyed, leaving many residents in distress.
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Opeoluwa Benson – Content Researcher
