The Senate plenary session of Wednesday, 18 April 2018 was disrupted after unknown thugs invaded the Senate Chambers to forcefully remove the Mace. The incident happened shortly after Senate had commenced its legislative activities. The mace is a symbol of authority in any proceeding at plenary. However, following the incident, the Senate held an executive session where it resolved to continue its plenary session after it obtained a spare mace.
Speaking at plenary after the executive session, Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP: Enugu) who presided over the session, condemned the act stating that the Senate was determined to conduct its legislative affairs. He also issued an order with lawmakers’ consensus directing the Inspector General of Police and the Director of the State Security Services to retrieve the mace that was confiscated within 24 hours. Following the incident, the House also extended its hand of solidarity to the Senate with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Lasun (PDP: Osun) leading Members of the House of Representatives to the Senate Chambers for a brief meeting.
In the meantime, officers of the Nigerian Police Force have arrested Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (APC: Delta) in connection with the incident after Senate adjourned its plenary session. . The Senate accused Sen.Omo-Agege of being the mastermind behind the confiscation of the mace. Notably, the lawmaker was in attendance when the said incident happened attended at the Senate plenary despite being suspended by the hallowed chambers for 90 legislative days with effect from 12th April 2018.
It would be recalled that the Senate suspended the Sen. Omo-Agege after his statement that the amendment to section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), bordering on the reordering of the sequence of elections, was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.
