Senate Kawu Sumaila clash erupts during closed-door session as senator challenges leadership over contracts, committee appointments and project execution
A heated confrontation reportedly broke out on Tuesday during a closed-door session of the Nigerian Senate after Senator Kawu Sumaila, who represents Kano South Senatorial District, clashed with Senate leadership over allegations concerning government contracts, project execution and committee appointments.
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The Senate Kawu Sumaila clash is said to have unfolded during a private session of lawmakers, where discussions centred on the pace of project implementation nationwide and the utilisation of loans approved by the National Assembly for infrastructure development.
Senator Kawu Sumaila reportedly criticised the slow execution of projects across the country, alleging that several contractors had not been paid despite the approval of significant borrowing requests by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to accounts from sources familiar with the meeting, the senator warned that the situation could have political consequences for lawmakers and the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of future elections.
The remarks reportedly triggered a sharp response from Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, escalating the Senate Kawu Sumaila clash into a tense exchange within the chamber.
Sources claimed that the Senate leadership referenced earlier political arrangements involving Senator Kawu Sumaila, including discussions said to have taken place prior to his defection to the All Progressives Congress.
It was further alleged during the session that President Bola Tinubu had facilitated a N90 billion ecological contract in Kano State linked to the senator, alongside his appointment as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream following the death of former Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Senator Kawu Sumaila, however, reportedly rejected the claims and insisted he would not be silenced or intimidated, maintaining that his comments reflected concerns shared by a broader section of lawmakers.
In a strongly worded response, he was quoted as saying that he could not be blackmailed and that any committee appointment or contractual arrangement should not be used to suppress his views during legislative deliberations.
He further challenged the leadership to withdraw both the committee position and the alleged contract if they were intended to influence his stance.
Witnesses described the session as tense, with emotions running high as both sides stood firm on their positions, though no official disciplinary action was announced following the exchange.
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The Senate leadership has not issued a formal statement on the incident at the time of filing this report.
