The Senate has unanimously voted to refer Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a disciplinary review following a dispute over seating arrangements.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to report its findings.
The decision followed a voice vote after lawmakers revisited the altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership over seat allocation. Senators stressed the importance of adhering to parliamentary rules and maintaining decorum within the chamber.
Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu raised the issue in a motion under Order 1(b) and 10, condemning Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the Senate session on February 20. He noted that the media had extensively covered the incident, prompting efforts to repair the Senate’s image. He emphasized, “The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight.”
Adaramodu urged the Senate leadership to enforce discipline, declaring, “Where there is sin, there must be a penalty.”
Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele also voiced his support, reiterating the Senate’s commitment to its rules and internal order. “Integrity is non-negotiable,” he said, dismissing suggestions that the dispute was rooted in gender bias or discrimination. He cited examples of senior senators who had accepted seat changes without protest.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to review the incident and report back to the chamber. Akpabio recalled that Senate rules allow members to sit anywhere, but contributions must be made from designated seats. He suggested that the dispute might have stemmed from unfamiliarity with Senate procedures.
Reflecting on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s first day in the Senate, Akpabio remarked, “When she stood up to contribute, I was concerned if she had even read the rule book. There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure.”
Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of Senate rules, Akpabio emphasized the importance of decorum in the Senate, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water, or being disruptive during sessions. “The rules empower the Senate President to suspend a senator for infractions for at least 14 days. It’s not me who made the rules; they’re in the rule book,” he concluded.
