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Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio has asserted that the National Assembly will not be held hostage by the “disruptive instincts” of any of its members.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 11, by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, titled “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate,” Akpabio emphasised that enforcing parliamentary rules is not aimed at silencing dissent but at preserving order and safeguarding democratic institutions.
He stressed that the Senate must uphold discipline and respect for its rules to maintain the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy.
Akpabio’s remarks followed renewed tensions with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who recently returned to the chamber after a six-month suspension, which she continues to contest.
“The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members,” Akpabio stated.
“Democracy thrives only when its institutions are respected and its rules upheld. The discipline of parliamentary conduct is a universal marker of political civilisation.”
He compared the Nigerian Senate to the UK’s House of Commons, noting that “the authority of the Speaker there is absolute and unchallenged,” and that no member, regardless of status, may defy such authority without consequence.
Akpabio further clarified that the Senate’s Standing Orders are not “ceremonial relics,” but rather the “living constitution” of the legislature, created to ensure fairness, consistency, and procedural integrity.
Drawing parallels with other global parliaments, Akpabio defended the Senate’s right to discipline errant members, noting that suspension or expulsion is common practice when lawmakers undermine institutional dignity.
He described the 10th Senate as “a chamber of resilience and balance,” committed to demonstrating that “freedom within order is the truest form of democracy.”
“When the chamber insists it will not be held hostage by any member’s disruptive tendencies, it is reaffirming the primacy of collective responsibility over personal grandstanding,” he said.
Akpabio added that his leadership style prioritises firmness and inclusion, ensuring that the Senate remains a stabilising force amid rising populism and public distrust.
“Leadership of this sort does not seek applause; it seeks stability,” he said. “By enforcing its Standing Orders, the Senate has reclaimed its moral authority and proven that rules, when rightly applied, serve as shields against institutional decay, not tools of oppression.”
