Senate President Godswill Akpabio rushed to the presidential villa on Monday afternoon after a commotion at the red chamber.
Akpabio visited the state house shortly after a rowdy session over a motion seeking to suspend the screening of Festus Keyamo as a ministerial nominee.
Darlington Nwokocha, senator representing Abia central, moved the motion when Keyamo appeared before the senate’s committee of the whole for screening.
Nwokocha said Keyamo ignored the summon of the national assembly over the employment scheme of 774,000 Nigerians recruited for the special public works programme.
“I move that we suspend forthwith screening of the nomination and wait until when this is cleared,” he said.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia south, supported Nwokocha’s motion to step down Keyamo’s screening.
When the senate president put the motion to a voice vote, the ‘nays’ were as loud as the ‘ayes’ after which a rancorous session ensued.
Akpabio called for another voice vote after the first, and this time, the lawmakers responded in a disorderly manner, collectively shouting “no” and “yes”.
The rowdiness continued for about five minutes before calm was restored. Thereafter, the senate president called for an executive session.