A heated argument broke out in the Senate on Thursday, March 20, 2025, between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) over the procedural handling of President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State.
Tensions flared after Senator Bamidele Opeyemi moved a motion to reorder the Senate’s Order Paper, prioritizing the debate on the Rivers State emergency over other legislative matters. However, as Bamidele stood to speak, Dickson raised a point of order, seeking recognition to address the chamber.
Akpabio, instead of immediately yielding the floor, reminded Dickson of his previous public comments where he had allegedly opposed the Senate’s stance on the Rivers crisis.
The Senate President recalled that Dickson had appeared on television, stating that he would not support the Senate’s decision regarding the state of emergency.
As Dickson persisted in trying to make his point, Akpabio instructed him to turn off his microphone and sit down. The Senate President sternly warned, saying, “Senator Seriake Dickson, let’s not argue.
If we argue, it won’t be good for any of us. We are all distinguished people. You were a former governor, and I was a former governor. Please turn off your mic and sit down.”
He further emphasized that since Dickson had already made public declarations against the Senate’s decision, it was inappropriate for him to now challenge the proceedings.
In response, Dickson insisted that his intervention was not about personal views but rather a matter of parliamentary procedure.
He stressed the importance of mutual respect among senators and argued that the chamber should first hold a closed-door session before proceeding with deliberations on the emergency declaration.
“Mr. Senate President, you know we must have mutual respect for all our colleagues, and I do have regard for you, particularly as our presiding officer, and I think that should be reciprocal,” Dickson stated firmly.
The verbal exchange added another layer of political tension to the already controversial state of emergency declaration, as lawmakers remain divided on the decision to suspend Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara and impose direct federal control over the state.