Senate Won’t Be Held Hostage By A Single Member — Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the National Assembly will not be constrained by the disruptive actions of any of its members, emphasizing that upholding the Senate’s rules is crucial for safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic integrity.

In a statement released by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, on Saturday, October 11, titled “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate,” Akpabio justified the Senate’s commitment to maintaining discipline, clarifying that it was not an effort to suppress dissent but to uphold order, respect, and the sanctity of democratic institutions.

His comments came in response to a dispute with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who recently resumed her duties in the chamber after a six-month suspension and has continued to challenge the legality of that disciplinary measure.

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. The discipline of parliamentary conduct is a universal marker of political civilisation.”

He drew parallels with other democratic systems, notably the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, noting that, “In the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, the authority of the Speaker is absolute and unchallenged. No member, regardless of party or popularity, may openly defy the Speaker’s ruling without consequences.”

The Senate President underscored that Nigeria’s Standing Orders are not merely symbolic but an essential component of parliamentary governance. “The Nigerian Senate’s Standing Orders are not ceremonial relics from the past. They are the living constitution of the institution, carefully designed to preserve fairness, consistency, and the sanctity of the legislative process,” he said.

Defending the Senate’s authority to discipline members when necessary, Akpabio pointed out that comparable measures are in place in the world’s most esteemed parliaments, where lawmakers face suspension or expulsion for undermining parliamentary order. “In the British House of Commons, suspension or expulsion is not rare when a member’s behaviour undermines parliamentary dignity. Nigeria’s Senate has every right to apply similar standards,” he said.

Describing the 10th Senate as “a chamber of resilience and balance,” Akpabio emphasized that the legislature is dedicated to ensuring that freedom coexists with order, which he called “the truest form of democracy.”

He elaborated, “When the chamber asserts that it will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any single member, it is affirming the primacy of collective responsibility over individual grandstanding. This is how strong legislatures endure, not by silencing dissent, but by ensuring that dissent respects the bounds of procedure.”

Akpabio added that his leadership approach “combines firmness and inclusion, aiming to maintain the Senate’s role as a stabilising force amid growing populism and public distrust.”

“Leadership of this sort does not seek applause; it seeks stability. By upholding its Standing Orders, the Senate has reclaimed its moral authority and demonstrated that rules, properly enforced, are not instruments of oppression but shields against institutional decay,” he concluded.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli