The Nigerian Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for investigation following a disagreement over her seating arrangement in the chamber.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to review the matter and present its findings.
According to The PUNCH, the decision was reached through a voice vote during Tuesday’s plenary as senators debated Akpoti-Uduaghan’s confrontation with the Senate leadership regarding her designated seat. Lawmakers emphasized the need to uphold parliamentary procedures and maintain decorum.
Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who raised the motion under Senate Orders 1(b) and 10, criticised Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct during the February 20 session. He argued that her actions had generated widespread media attention, prompting efforts to restore the public image of the 10th Senate.
“The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight,” Adaramodu stated. “Where there is sin, there must be a penalty.”
Supporting the motion, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele underscored the importance of maintaining order in the chamber.
“We are bound by our rules, and under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable,” Bamidele declared.
He dismissed suggestions that gender bias influenced the dispute, pointing out that other senior senators had accepted seating adjustments without issue.
In his ruling, Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed the Ethics Committee to conduct a thorough review of the incident. He reiterated that while lawmakers are free to sit anywhere, official contributions must be made from their designated seats.
“The first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book,” Akpabio remarked. “There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure.”
Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, he reminded senators of the importance of maintaining order, adding that disruptive behaviour, such as chewing gum or drinking water during proceedings, is prohibited.
The Ethics Committee is expected to conclude its investigation and report back to the Senate within the stipulated timeframe.
