Reports have surfaced of an alleged physical fight between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele at the Senate Cafeteria on Tuesday.
According to journalist Jackson Ude, the altercation escalated to an exchange of blows, with both leaders purportedly grabbing each other by the neck.
An eyewitness claimed that the intervention of Senator Sani Bello of Niger State prevented the situation from spiraling into a “blood bath.”
The clash reportedly highlights underlying tensions within the Senate over Akpabio’s leadership style. Insiders suggest that Bamidele is aggrieved over Akpabio’s decision to appoint a Northerner as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, a position Bamidele and other members of the South West Caucus allegedly felt should have gone to their region.
Sources accuse Akpabio of marginalizing the South West and favoring allies and cronies in the distribution of key positions, further deepening divisions within the legislative body.
Neither Akpabio nor Bamidele reportedly appeared at the Senate on Wednesday, fueling speculation about the incident’s impact on Senate proceedings.
This alleged altercation, if confirmed, underscores a broader issue of factionalism and dissatisfaction among senators over perceived inequities in leadership decisions and resource allocation.
The Senate leadership is yet to issue an official statement on the matter, and it remains unclear whether steps will be taken to address the reported divisions. Observers are calling for swift action to mend the cracks within the Senate and restore cohesion in the nation’s upper legislative chamber.
This development has drawn attention to the broader challenges of unity and equitable representation in Nigeria’s legislative politics.
