Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated emphatically that the National Assembly will not be held hostage by what he described as the “disruptive instincts” of any individual lawmaker.
In a statement released on Saturday by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, titled “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate”, Akpabio reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to upholding discipline and enforcing its rules—not to suppress dissent, but to protect democratic order and institutional integrity.
“The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members,” Akpabio declared. “Democracy thrives only when its institutions are respected and its rules upheld.”
His comments come amid ongoing tensions with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who recently resumed duties after serving a six-month suspension—an action she continues to contest.
Akpabio defended the Senate’s stance, saying that enforcing parliamentary rules is essential to maintaining order and legitimacy. He drew comparisons with long-established democracies, particularly the United Kingdom.
“In the UK’s House of Commons, the authority of the Speaker is absolute and unchallenged. No member, regardless of popularity or party affiliation, may openly defy the Speaker’s ruling without facing consequences,” he said.
He stressed that the Nigerian Senate’s Standing Orders are far from symbolic.
“They are not ceremonial relics from the past,” Akpabio noted. “They are the living constitution of the institution—carefully crafted to ensure fairness, consistency, and the sanctity of the legislative process.”
The Senate President further argued that the right to discipline erring members is not unique to Nigeria’s legislature, but a norm in functional democracies.
“In the world’s most respected parliaments, lawmakers who flout rules face swift consequences. Suspension or expulsion is not uncommon in the British House of Commons when conduct undermines parliamentary dignity. Nigeria’s Senate has every right to enforce similar standards,” he said.
Describing the 10th Senate as “a chamber of resilience and balance,” Akpabio said the leadership is committed to ensuring that “freedom within order is the truest form of democracy.”
“When the chamber asserts that it will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any single member, it is affirming the primacy of collective responsibility over individual grandstanding,” he added. “This is how strong legislatures endure—not by silencing dissent, but by ensuring that dissent respects procedural boundaries.”
Akpabio also underscored his leadership style as both firm and inclusive, emphasizing the Senate’s role as a stabilizing force amid growing populism and public distrust.
“Leadership of this sort does not seek applause; it seeks stability,” he said. “By upholding its Standing Orders, the Senate has reclaimed its moral authority and shown that rules, properly enforced, are not instruments of oppression—but shields against institutional decay.”
