Natasha to face Senate panel over ‘disorderly misconduct’

The Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan ( Kogi Central), to its disciplinary committee over an alleged disorderly misconduct in the Hallowed Chamber on Thursday last week.

She is expected to face the Senate committee on Ethics, privileges and public petition chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South).

The decision followed extensive debates regarding her actions, which were deemed to have violated the standing rules of the upper legislative chamber.

The controversy began last week when Natasha discovered that her seat had been reassigned upon resumption of the session.

Refusing to comply with the new arrangement, she challenged the decision, sparking heated exchange of words between her and the President of the Senate.

Setting the stage for disciplinary action against Natasha , the Senate’s spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu , cited Orders 1B and 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which pertain to privileges and procedural conduct within the chamber.

“The order states that, ‘Any Senator may rise at any time to speak upon a matter of privilege, suddenly arising,'” Adaramodu explained.

Describing the altercation as a “procedural infraction” rather than mere drama, he lamented the negative public commentary it had generated.

“I will note that when you are in the Senate or the Legislature and not a member, you cannot raise a point of order. You have to be a member to ask for order,” he stressed.

“The Senate is not for skit-making, not for content creation where we show off for cameras, take snapshots, TikTok, and so on,” he stated, condemning what he called Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence and obduracy.”

Similarly, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim ( Ondo South) , emphasized the need to uphold the integrity of the Senate, stating that any act inconsistent with the Senate Rules was “void and of no effect.”

“The Senate is an institution, and that institution must have integrity as its driving force”

Senator Ibrahim consequently moved that the issue be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for further deliberation.

Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader, stressed the importance of maintaining parliamentary rules and procedures.

He said, “This is about us as an institution. Our rules will be respected because that is what binds us together” .

In his remarks before putting the motion to voice votes , the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio reinforced the need for order, stating that the Senate must remain stronger than when they met it.

He took time to educate senators, particularly those who joined midstream, on parliamentary procedures:

He said, “There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but there is a lot wrong when you don’t know anything about the procedure.

“When people come from the courts or are declared senators midstream, they miss the orientation.

” The management of the National Assembly is hereby ordered to organize periodic orientation, particularly for senators who joined midstream (court ruling).”

Akpabio also referenced Section 66 of the Senate Rules, which empowers the presiding officer to direct a senator to discontinue a speech if it persists in irrelevance or repetition.

He therefore put the motion , seconded by Senator Abba Moro ( Benue South) , to voice votes and got affirmative answers from Senators , ordering Natasha to face its Committee on Ethics , Code of Conduct and Public Petitions .

He mandated the committee to report back in two weeks .