Pandemonium broke out in the Senate chamber on Tuesday after Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) stormed the floor waving a large Biafran flag and demanding the immediate release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The session, which began as a routine plenary, quickly degenerated into chaos as the outspoken senator raised his voice, accusing the Federal Government of selective justice and political persecution.
“Enough is enough! My brother is sick, yet you keep him in detention while Boko Haram members walk free! Nothing will move in this Senate until Nnamdi Kanu is released!” Abaribe shouted, slamming his hand repeatedly on the Senate table.
Witnesses described the scene as “unprecedented” and “explosive.” Some senators attempted to calm Abaribe down, while others called for his immediate removal from the chamber.
Security officials rushed to the floor to restrain the senator, but he resisted, insisting that no national business would continue until justice was done.
“Release him, or watch this country burn politically!” he declared before being surrounded by security aides.
Following the disruption, Senate President Godswill Akpabio was forced to suspend plenary temporarily. Sources say an emergency closed-door meeting was convened to address the situation and prevent further escalation.
Abaribe, a former Senate Minority Leader and long-time advocate for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, has repeatedly criticized the government’s handling of the IPOB leader’s case. His latest outburst marks the most dramatic protest yet within the upper chamber over the issue.
As of press time, neither the Senate leadership nor the Presidency had issued an official statement on the incident.
