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Akpabio, Bamidele Reportedly Clash Over Leadership Style

ByOlamilekan Adigun

PublishedJuly 25, 2025

Fresh cracks have emerged within the leadership of the Nigerian Senate following a public confrontation reportedly occurred between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele over Akpabio’s leadership style on Wednesday.

According to Daily Trust, the altercation, which took place during plenary, is the latest in what insiders describe as a simmering crisis in the red chamber between two key figures of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sources say the discord that followed Akpabio’s emergence in 2023 remains unresolved, with some principal officers quietly expressing concern over what they perceive as his overbearing leadership.

Daily Trust gathered that tensions escalated on Wednesday after Akpabio announced that the Senate would proceed on its annual recess, a decision that reportedly surprised several principal officers, who felt the matter should have first been discussed at the leadership level.

Some senators who were privy to what transpired said the misunderstanding among the leaders of the senate was inching towards an anticlimax.

One of the senators, who requested anonymity, said the announcement by Akpabio led to an argument about whether the chamber had fulfilled its constitutional mandate of sitting for at least 181 days.

“An argument ensued on whether we have completed 181 days or not, and this is something they ought to have discussed among themselves at the leadership level,” the senator said.

“Akpabio was saying that there will be NEC (National Executive Committee) meeting (of the APC) on Thursday, so we were supposed to sit on Wednesday to close ahead of the NEC meeting. As he was speaking, the Senate Leader stood up and raised a point of order, saying we are constitutionally supposed to sit for 181 days, and from what he sees, we have not completed those days,” the senator added.

However, while Bamidele’s observation was said to be technically accurate, senators were reportedly surprised that he challenged the Senate President so openly.

“It was wrong for him to do that in plenary. To be fair, Akpabio showed statesmanship by calmly cautioning him to approach the chair,” another lawmaker said.

The senator added that concerns had long existed over a lack of cohesion among presiding officers.

“We have always heard that he doesn’t carry the Senate leadership along. From the Deputy President of the Senate to the Senate Leader, they are all mostly not aware of it. Akpabio is more like a sole administrator; he goes to the Senate chamber directly and doesn’t hold leadership meetings regularly. That is where the problem is,” the source said.

Following Bamidele’s intervention, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) also raised concerns, criticising the leadership for failing to meet beforehand to agree on a unified position. His remarks prompted Akpabio to call for an executive session to discuss the matter behind closed doors.

However, instead of easing tensions, the session reportedly intensified them.

According to another senator, “Ndume’s comment appeared to spark deeper frustrations. Bamidele then publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Akpabio’s leadership.”

“When Akpabio began responding, it became obvious that the Deputy Senate President and the Senate Leader were on the same page. Akpabio, however, reminded them of his legislative and executive experience—as a two-term governor, minister, and senator—to justify his handling of the issue,” the source added.

Ultimately, Akpabio had his way, and the Senate adjourned for its annual recess. This reportedly occurred after Akpabio confirmed that the House of Representatives was also proceeding on break.

When asked if the incident might threaten Akpabio’s leadership, a ranking senator from the North said, “I can’t say for certain, but I can tell you the leadership group doesn’t really support him. There’s a bloc of principal officers—close to former Senate President Ahmad Lawan—including Bamidele, the Deputy Senate President, and Solomon Adeola. They were not in favour of Akpabio’s emergence. Their original preference was Orji Kalu or Senator Osita Izunaso, but Akpabio was President Tinubu’s pick to balance South-South representation.”

He added, “Akpabio may be under pressure, but he’s also very generous and has built personal alliances. That’s why it’s difficult for anyone to challenge him outright.”

Attempts by Daily Trust to get official reactions from Senate leadership were unsuccessful as of press time.

Olamilekan Adigun

Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.