Senate President Godswill Akpabio has warned that the National Assembly will not allow any member to hold the chamber “hostage” through disruptive conduct.
His remarks came in a statement issued by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, titled “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate”.
Akpabio emphasized that upholding Senate rules is not about muzzling dissent, but preserving order and the dignity of democratic institutions.
He said the upper chamber must demand discipline and respect for its standing orders, insisting that deviation by any member should not derail the collective will of the institution.
The comments directly follow tension with Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who has challenged her six‑month suspension and continued to contest the grounds of the Senate’s disciplinary action.
Akpabio stated:
“The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members. Democracy thrives only when its institutions are respected and its rules upheld.”
He drew comparisons with democratic parliaments abroad, citing the UK House of Commons, where the authority of the Speaker is absolute and no member is permitted to openly defy rulings without consequence.
“The Nigerian Senate’s Standing Orders are not ceremonial relics. They are the living constitution of the institution,” he added, arguing that they are designed to protect fairness, consistency, and the sanctity of legislative process.
Akpabio defended the Senate’s right to discipline its members when they violate rules, pointing out that in many mature parliaments, members who defy order face suspension or expulsion.
He insisted that enforcement of rules strengthens, rather than weakens, democratic governance.
Describing the 10th Senate as “a chamber of resilience and balance,” he said its leadership is committed to showing that “freedom within order is the truest form of democracy.”
He concluded by reaffirming that dissent is welcome in the Senate, so long as it respects procedural limits.
