Senate Unanimously Votes To Send Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan To Disciplinary Committee Over Clash With Akpabio, Seating Arrangement Conflict
The controversy began during the Senate’s session on February 20, when Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with the Senate leadership regarding her assigned seat.
The Nigerian Senate has unanimously voted to refer Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a disciplinary review following her recent dispute over a seating arrangement.
This decision, reached through a voice vote on Tuesday, mandates the committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, to submit its findings within two weeks.
The controversy began during the Senate’s session on February 20, when Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with the Senate leadership regarding her assigned seat. The incident generated significant media attention and prompted some lawmakers to call for disciplinary measures.
Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu raised a motion under Orders 1(b) and 10, criticizing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions as “extreme intransigence” and arguing that her defiance disrupted the decorum of the Senate.
“Since that Thursday, the media has been filled with this issue, and I had to work on repairing the perception of the 10th Senate,” Adaramodu stated.
“The Senate is not a platform for content creation; it is a place for lawmaking and oversight functions. Where there is wrongdoing, there must be consequences.”
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele supported the motion, emphasising the need to maintain order within the chamber.
“Everyone has an opinion on this issue, but we are united by our rules,” Bamidele remarked. “We will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we have inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable.”
He dismissed suggestions that gender bias influenced the dispute, highlighting that other senior senators had accepted seat reassignments without objections.
The disciplinary committee’s report is anticipated to clarify whether Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions violated Senate rules and to recommend any necessary sanctions.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has instructed the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to review the incident and report back to the chamber.
Akpabio noted that while Senate rules permit members to sit anywhere, they must contribute from their designated seats.
He suggested that unfamiliarity with Senate procedures may have contributed to the altercation.
Recalling a past incident, he mentioned, “On her first day sworn in, she stood to contribute, and I was concerned whether she had even read the rulebook. While there is nothing wrong with being vibrant, it is unacceptable to disregard procedures.”
Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, Akpabio stressed that all senators must maintain decorum, which includes prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water, or causing disruptions during sessions.
“The rules empower the Senate President to suspend a senator for a minimum of 14 days for infractions. I didn’t make the rules—it is all in the rulebook,” he added.
