A tumultuous scene unfolded in the upper legislative chambers on Tuesday as Senators engaged in a heated dispute over the seating arrangement in the newly renovated Senate Chamber of the National Assembly.

The commotion erupted among three Senators during the session, with disagreements arising over the seats assigned to them in the chamber, which was being utilized for the first time following months of renovation.

Senators Danjuma Goje of Gombe Central and Sahabi Yau of Zamfara North expressed dissatisfaction with the seats allocated to them and brought their grievances to the attention of Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.

The dispute unfolded just as Senate President Godswill Akpabio commenced his welcome address following the five-week Easter and Sallah break, which was further extended due to the renovation works undertaken by federal lawmakers.

In accordance with the standing rules of the upper legislative chamber, senators are expected to occupy seats based on their rank.

However, Goje and Yau, positioned in the second row on the right side of the aisle, contested the seats assigned to them by the Senate Committee on Services, chaired by Senator Sunday Karimi of Kogi West.

Insisting that they should have been allocated seats in the front row on the extreme right, opposite the majority leader and the deputy senate president, the four-term senators voiced their discontent.

Subsequently, Senator Kawu Sumaila of Kano South called for a “point of order,” which went unacknowledged.

Following the fracas, Bamidele proposed a motion for a closed session, leading to the Senators adjourning into a closed-door meeting.

First photo: Newly Renovated Senate

Second photo: Senators fighting over sitting arrangements in the newly renovated senate