Reps in Chaos Over Motion to Summon President Tinubu

​ABUJA — The floor of the House of Representatives erupted in turmoil on Wednesday as a heated debate over the funding of constituency projects spiraled into a rowdy session, forcing leadership to struggle to maintain order.

​The disorder followed a motion moved by Alex Mascot Ikwechegh (LP – Abia State), which called for President Bola Tinubu to appear before the House to provide an explanation regarding the persistent delays in funding constituency projects nationwide. The motion, which sought to hold the executive branch accountable for what lawmakers described as a critical bottleneck in grassroots development, immediately polarized the chamber.

​Escalating Tensions

​Following the motion’s introduction, the legislative friction intensified when a supporting lawmaker proposed an amendment to suspend all plenary activities for one week until the funding impasse is resolved.

​The proposal drew immediate and sharp opposition from Yusuf Gagdi (APC – Plateau State). Gagdi argued that summoning the President was constitutionally and procedurally unnecessary, asserting that the administration of constituency project funds is the purview of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), rather than the President directly. He further dismissed the suggestion of a week-long suspension of legislative business as an unproductive move.

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​Speaker Intervenes

​As Gagdi’s counter-arguments were met with vocal disapproval from the floor, the chamber dissolved into a shouting match. The disorder grew until Speaker Tajudeen Abbas was forced to intervene, ultimately calling for an immediate vote to determine the House’s collective stance on the controversial motion.

​The incident underscores the growing legislative frustration regarding the execution of capital projects and suggests a deepening rift between certain members of the House and the Executive arm over fiscal oversight. As of mid-afternoon, the House remained in a state of high tension as it sought to navigate the procedural fallout of the day’s events.