‘Don’t wash our dirty linen in public’ — Speaker Abbas Stops Lawmaker From Criticizing House Conduct in Plenary

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the House of Representatives, hascautioned a lawmaker against commenting on the conduct of legislators inpublic. Ifeanyi Uzokwe, lawmaker representing Nnewi North/NnewiSouth/Ekwusigo federal constituency of Anambra, had raised a point of order toaddress the lack of decorum during Thursday’s plenary. “Every day we come here, Mr Speaker, we receive our childrenand visitors in the gallery. Why are they here? They are here to see how weconduct ourselves and learn from us,” Uzokwe said. “But most times, what we display here is not what theyshould see as an example of parliamentarians. Mr Speaker, I love you, I lovethe leadership of this house, and we are united — but we must conductourselves.” While Uzokwe was still speaking, Abbas interrupted him,saying the matter should be handled in an executive session. “If what we are going to discuss pertains to this chamber,we can do it in an executive session,” the speaker said. “We don’t need to wash our dirty linen in public. I don’tunderstand what we stand to gain. You can request an executive session toaddress issues about our conduct. This is not the forum for that. I appeal toyou to withdraw.” Uzokwe reluctantly yielded after Abbas appealed for thematter to be dropped. BACKGROUND Earlier during plenary, Abdulmumin Jibrin, memberrepresenting Kiru/Bebeji constituency of Kano, formally defected from the NewNigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Jibrin, a close ally of Rabiu Kwankwaso, NNPP’s 2023presidential candidate and former governor of Kano, cited leadership crises inthe NNPP as his reason for leaving. Sagir Koki, lawmaker representing Kano Municipal federalconstituency, also announced his defection from the NNPP. Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president; Opeyemi Bamidele,senate leader; Tahir Monguno, senate chief whip; Nentawe Yilwatda, APC nationalchairman; and Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kano governor, were among several APCchieftains present in the green chamber to witness the defections. After Abbas read the letters of defection, the Jibrin, Kokiand party leaders gathered around the speaker’s seat for photographs,momentarily halting legislative business as APC members celebrated. While the ceremony was ongoing, opposition lawmakers —including Uzokwe — attempted to raise points of order to protest thedefections, but the speaker ignored them. Since the turn of the year, it has become frequent forgovernors and APC leaders to attend legislative plenaries, often to witnesslawmakers formally defecting to the ruling party.

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