IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review following a disagreement over seating arrangements in the chamber.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to investigate the matter and submit its findings.
The decision came after a voice vote on Tuesday, as lawmakers revisited Akpoti-Uduaghan’s altercation with the Senate leadership over her designated seat. Senators emphasized the importance of maintaining parliamentary decorum and following established rules.
Raising a motion under Senate Orders 1(b) and 10, Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu criticized what he described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the February 20 plenary session. He noted that the issue had drawn significant media attention, compelling him to work on restoring the public image of the 10th Senate.
“The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight functions,” Adaramodu said, urging the leadership to enforce discipline. “Where there is sin, there must be a penalty.”
Supporting Adaramodu’s position, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele reaffirmed the need for order and integrity in the chamber.
“Everyone has an opinion on this issue, but we are bound by our rules. Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable,” Bamidele stated.
He dismissed claims that the dispute was linked to gender bias, noting that other senior senators had accepted seat changes without protest.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his ruling, directed the Ethics Committee to conduct a thorough review of the incident and report back to the chamber.
Akpabio pointed out that while senators are free to sit anywhere, they must contribute to discussions from their designated seats. He suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s unfamiliarity with Senate procedures may have contributed to the altercation.
“The first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book. There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure,” Akpabio remarked.
Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, he reminded lawmakers of the importance of decorum, noting that actions such as chewing gum, drinking water, or being disruptive during sittings are prohibited.
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