Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, left the plenary after Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order during the plenary on Tuesday.

Mr Ndume, an All Progressive Congress (APC) senator representing Borno South, raised a point of order, citing Order 54 of Senate rule, saying that it was the responsibility of the chief whip to remind and guide the Senate on procedure and processes of plenary.

This followed an alleged error committed in a motion moved by Senator Summaila Kawu (NNPP Kano South) on the need to re-open the Nigerian-Niger Border. Mr Kawu moved the motion without stating its title.

Mr Ndume, through the order, attempted to draw the attention of Mr Akpabio to matters relating to proceedings of the Senate.

”This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, guided by laws, rules and procedures. If in the course of proceedings at any session, errors are observed, they must be corrected before forging ahead with such proceeding,” Mr Ndume said.

But shortly after listening to Mr Ndume’s point of order, the Senate president said the section quoted by the senator was not the same as the content of Order 54 cited.

Mr Akpabio consequently ruled Mr Ndume out of order.

Senator Sunday Karimi (APC Kogi West), while attempting to sustain Mr Ndume’s argument through another point of order, was also swiftly ruled out of order by the Senate president.

At this point, Mr Ndume left the plenary and went to his office as the Senate president called for a closed session.

However, Mr Ndume, on receiving a call from a colleague that the Senate resolved into close session, returned to join proceedings.