The Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review following a dispute over seating arrangements in the chamber.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to investigate the matter and submit its findings.
The decision was reached after a voice vote on Tuesday, as lawmakers revisited the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s altercation with the Senate leadership over her designated seat. Senators stressed the importance of upholding parliamentary decorum and adherence to established rules.
Raising a motion under Senate Orders 1(b) and 10, Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, condemned what he described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the February 20 plenary session.
He noted that the issue had dominated media discussions, forcing him to work on repairing the public perception of the 10th Senate.
“The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight functions urging the leadership to enforce discipline.
“Where there is sin, there must be a penalty,” Adaramodu said.
Backing Adaramodu’s stance, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to maintaining order and integrity.
“Everyone has an opinion on this issue, but we are bound by our rules. Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable,” Bamidele stated.
He dismissed claims that the dispute stemmed from gender bias, pointing out that other senior senators had accepted seat changes without protest.
In his ruling, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Ethics Committee to conduct a thorough review of the incident and report back to the chamber.
Akpabio emphasised that while senators are permitted to sit anywhere, they must make contributions from their designated seats.
He suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s unfamiliarity with Senate procedures may have contributed to the altercation.
“The first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book. There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure,” Akpabio said.
Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, he reminded lawmakers of the need for decorum, noting that actions such as chewing gum, drinking water, or being disruptive during sittings are prohibited.
