ABUJA: The Senate has unanimously decided to refer Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a disciplinary review following a recent dispute over her seating arrangement.
On February 20, the Kogi Senator engaged in a heated argument after discovering her seat had been changed without her approval.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to submit a report on its findings.
The decision came after a voice vote, as lawmakers revisited the controversy surrounding the seating dispute and emphasized the importance of maintaining parliamentary rules and decorum.
Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, brought the issue back to the floor, condemning what he described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s extreme intransigence during the February 20 Senate session.
He stated, Since that Thursday, the media has been flooded with this issue, and I had to work on repairing the 10th Senate’s image.
The Senate is not a platform for media drama; it’s a place for lawmaking and oversight.
Adaramodu called for the Senate leadership to enforce discipline, adding, Where there is wrongdoing, there must be a consequence.
Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, echoed this sentiment, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to its rules and order.
He emphasized, We may all have different opinions on this, but our unity lies in our adherence to the rules. Under our watch, this institution will not be discredited further. Integrity is non-negotiable.
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Bamidele also dismissed claims that the seating dispute was due to gender bias, pointing to examples of senior senators who had accepted seat changes without issue.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to review the matter and report back to the chamber.
Akpabio reminded the Senate that while members are free to sit anywhere, they must contribute from their designated seats.
He suggested that unfamiliarity with Senate procedures might have contributed to the altercation, adding, On her first day, she stood up to speak, and I was concerned if she had even read the rule book. Being vibrant is fine, but disregarding procedure is not.
Referencing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, Akpabio highlighted that all senators must conduct themselves with decorum, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking, or being disruptive during sessions.
The rules allow me to suspend any senator for up to 14 days for infractions, pabio concluded. “It’s not my rule, it’s in the rule book.
