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Nigeria’s Senate has been thrown into a sharp constitutional debate concerning United States airstrike targeting bandits in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, with lawmakers questioning whether the operation violated Nigeria’s sovereignty and sidelined legislative oversight.
The issue came to the floor after Senator Abdul Ningi raised a matter of privilege during plenary, warning that the reported strike went beyond counterterrorism and struck at the heart of Nigeria’s independence. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, halted open debate, insisting that such security matters should only be discussed behind closed doors.
The Bauchi Central senator stressed that his position was not a defence of criminal groups, noting that his concern lay strictly with constitutional process and national authority.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I hate these bandits and I want them dealt with wherever they are found. But two wrongs do not make a right,” Ningi said.
According to him, Nigeria’s Constitution does not grant the president or any arm of government the power to authorise foreign military strikes on Nigerian territory without the involvement of the National Assembly.
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“The Constitution places on the President the responsibility to protect our territorial integrity. But even the President under this Constitution cannot and shall not direct a foreign power to hit Nigeria from their bases,” he said.
In response, Senate President Akpabio cautioned against public discussion of what he described as a sensitive security matter. He said turning the Senate chamber into an open forum for classified issues could undermine national security.
“Because it is a matter of security, we really should not discuss it in the open. We should have a closed session so that we will be well briefed,” Akpabio told lawmakers.
He said the Senate leadership had already received briefings on the incident and maintained that the operation was carried out with the knowledge and concurrence of Nigerian security agencies, a point he said had been misrepresented in public conversations.
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As the exchange intensified, Akpabio ruled that the issue raised by Ningi did not qualify for a general debate. He reminded senators that the matter was brought under privilege rules and therefore did not require contributions from other members.
“I do not want anybody to contribute. You are debating your issue. No contribution is required,” he said.
After reviewing the constitutional provisions cited, Akpabio said Senate leadership had concluded that no legislative privilege had been breached, even while acknowledging the seriousness of the concerns raised.
“I have read the section, I understand it, and I was about to let you know that your privilege has not yet been breached,” he said.
Ningi warned that failing to challenge the reported strike could expose Nigeria to similar actions by other global powers in the future.
Akpabio explained that the Senate could not immediately move into a closed session due to time constraints surrounding the chamber’s first sitting, which had been dominated by tributes following the death of a serving senator.
Despite this, he assured lawmakers that a comprehensive briefing would be held at a later date, stressing the need for discretion rather than public confrontation as the Senate seeks clarity on the reported operation.
