Rowdy Session in House as Lawmakers Clash Over Motions

The House of Representatives witnessed a stormy session on Tuesday as lawmakers disagreed sharply over key motions bordering on security and management of public assets.

The plenary, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, turned chaotic after members repeatedly rejected motions of urgent national importance, prompting a brief suspension of proceedings for a closed-door session.

Trouble began when Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos), who chairs the House Committee on Public Assets, raised a motion alleging the illegal allocation of lands within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex. Kuye urged the House to direct his committee to investigate the matter.

However, his proposal was opposed by Francis Waive (APC, Delta), Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, who argued that the issue fell under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce. He was supported by Mark Esset (PDP, Akwa Ibom).

Waive’s amendment drew strong objection from Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), who insisted that the matter should remain under the purview of the Public Assets Committee.

In an attempt to douse tension, Gbefwi Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa) proposed the constitution of an Ad-hoc Committee comprising members of both committees to handle the investigation.

When the motion was put to a voice vote, the chamber became divided, and Kalu ruled in favour of the nays — a decision that provoked an uproar from some members.

The atmosphere became even more heated when Mohammed Bio (APC, Kwara) sought the House’s intervention over worsening insecurity in his constituency and requested the military to establish a base in the troubled area. His motion was also voted down, drawing murmurs and protests across the floor.

Sensing growing discontent, Kalu struggled to maintain order, but tempers flared again when Ayodeji Alao-Akala (Oyo) moved a motion calling on the Federal Government to respond to the recent classification of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Perhaps in an attempt to restore calm, the Deputy Speaker allowed the motion to pass despite resistance from several lawmakers, further angering members and forcing another suspension of plenary.

Proceedings later continued behind closed doors to restore decorum.