Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, has asserted that the upper chamber of the National Assembly will not be manipulated or paralysed by any disruptive gestures from individual senators. In a statement issued via his media aide, Akpabio emphasized that maintaining discipline and strict adherence to parliamentary rules is essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Though he did not single out any lawmaker by name, his remarks coincided with tensions surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, who recently returned from a six-month suspension that remains contested. Akpabio clarified that the enforcement of rules is not intended to suppress dissent but to preserve order and credibility within the legislature.
Drawing parallels with established parliamentary traditions in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, he highlighted that defiance of the chamber’s rules would attract consequences regardless of a member’s popularity. He maintained that the Senate’s Standing Orders are not relics, but living frameworks designed to protect fairness, consistency, and institutional honor.
Akpabio described the 10th Senate as a “chamber of resilience and balance,” committed to the principle of “freedom within order.” He stressed that leadership should seek stability—not applause—and that by upholding rule-based governance, the Senate reasserts its moral authority and shields itself from decay.
