Proceedings at the House of Representatives descended into chaos on Wednesday after lawmakers clashed over a proposal to invite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appear before the Green Chamber.
The disruption began when Benedict Etanabene, who represents the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State, raised a point of privilege concerning a June 29 circular issued by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.
Etanabene said the circular had sparked widespread public concern and required urgent legislative attention. He argued that, given its importance, President Tinubu should be invited to address lawmakers and clarify issues arising from the directive.
The suggestion immediately split the House, with some lawmakers supporting the move on the grounds that the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to oversee matters relating to public finance and governance. Others, however, opposed the proposal, arguing that inviting the President was unnecessary and inconsistent with constitutional practice.
The disagreement soon escalated into a shouting match, as several lawmakers spoke at the same time and repeatedly interrupted one another. The presiding officer was forced to intervene repeatedly in an effort to restore order and allow plenary to continue.
The debate underscored divisions within the House over the scope of the National Assembly’s oversight responsibilities and the proper channel for engaging the President on issues of national concern.
Although order was eventually restored following repeated appeals for calm, tensions remained high as deliberations on the controversial motion continued.
The incident marks another heated episode in the House of Representatives, reflecting growing disagreements among lawmakers over governance and accountability issues.
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