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The Nigerian Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary inquiry after a dispute about seating arrangements in the Senate.
The committee, led by Senator Neda Imasuen, has been given two weeks to look into the issue and report back on its findings.
On Tuesday, lawmakers re-examined the dispute surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s altercation with the Senate leadership over her allotted seat, and the decision was made by voice vote. Senators emphasised the value of following the rules and maintaining parliamentary decorum.
At the February 20 plenary session, Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu denounced what he called Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” by introducing a resolution under Senate Orders 1(b) and 10.
He stated that he had to focus on improving the public’s opinion of the 10th Senate because the matter had taken centre stage in media conversations.
“The Senate is a place for oversight and legislative duties, not for producing content. I urge the leadership to enforce discipline.”
“There must be a penalty where there is sin,” Adaramodu stated.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele underlined the chamber’s commitment to upholding integrity and order, endorsing Adaramodu’s position.
“On this matter, everyone has an opinion, but we are constrained by our regulations. We are not going to let this institution lose more credibility than we were given under our direction. Integrity cannot be compromised,” Bamidele said.
He refuted accusations of gender bias in the argument, pointing out that other senior senators had consented to seat adjustments without objecting.
Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, ordered the Ethics Committee to thoroughly investigate the matter and report back to the chamber.
Despite being allowed to sit anywhere, senators are required to contribute from their assigned seats, Akpabio underlined.
He assumed that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lack of knowledge of Senate processes might have played a role in the altercation.
“She stood up to contribute on the first day she was sworn in, and I wondered whether she had ever read the rulebook. Being vibrant is fine, but defying protocol is improper,” Akpabio stated.
He reminded lawmakers of the need for decorum by citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate regulations, which forbid behaviours like chewing gum, drinking water, or being unruly during sessions.
