Suspension looms as Senate probes Senator Natasha’s outburst

• passes vote of confidence in Akpabio

The Senate on Tuesday, directed its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions to investigate what it called “disorderly conduct” of Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on the floor of the house last week, asking the panel to turn in a report within three weeks.

It’s the first clear signal that Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi-Central Senatorial District, may likely go on suspension for engaging the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, in a verbal attack over the reallocation of seats in the Senate’s chambers.

The development came as senators passed a vote of confidence in Akpabio, saying that he had their mandate to preserve the integrity of the Red Chamber.

The Senate, acting on a matter of privilege brought to the floor by its spokesman, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, said Akpoti-Uduaghan breached the rules of procedure, tarnishing the image of the legislative house in the process.

“Our rules are like a catechism book. This extreme obduracy and intransigence by the senator is against Order 6.

“The President of the Senate has powers to allocate seats”, he said.

Adaramodu added, “The Senate is not a skit-making or content-creation center where you expect cameras to capture you for optics.

“People are now giving wrong interpretations to the rules of the Senate. I just want to say that we have to lay our beds very well for us to lie on them.

“Any action against the Senate President is against the entire Senate. Wherever there is a sin, there must be a penalty. It’s not about seat allocation alone but even comments about committee appointments were introduced into the fray.”

The drama had started on February 20 when Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reallocation of her seat by insisting on speaking from a seat not allocated to her.

Akpabio, in a bid to enforce the rules of the Senate, ordered that she should be walked out of the chambers.

But, the Kogi lawmaker, who stood her ground, continued to protest, engaging Akpabio in a shouting match instead.

“I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege,” she shouted at the Senate President.

Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, also rising in defense of the Senate on Tuesday, said no senator could consider themselves to be above the rules of the Senate.

He then moved a motion seconded by senators, passing a vote of confidence in the leadership of Akpabio.

“Mr President, be assured that you have our vote of confidence as a Senate. This is not about you but about the Senate as an institution.

“Our rules must be respected as what binds us together. We won’t allow this institution to be discredited.

“The whole issue about Natasha has nothing to do with gender or malice.
Sen. Adamu Aliero, one of the most senior senators, was asked to move his seat. He didn’t make any issue out of it”, stated.

Citing more examples, Bamidele recalled that Sen. Aminu Tambuwal, Sen. Wadada Aliyu, Sen. Aliu Wamakko, Sen. Adeola Olamilekan, and Sen. Adetokunbo Abiru all had their seats changed at one time or the other when the need arose.

Bamidele appealed to the Senate to discontinue further discussions on the matter on the floor but should rather refer it to the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct,, and Public Petitions for investigation to make appropriate recommendations for further actions.

Lending his voice, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim called on the Senate to protect its integrity as an institution.

“The integrity of the Senate can’t be compromised. Any action that is inconsistent with our rules is void and of no effect to the extent of the consistency of that action.

“Any action of a senator that is inconsistent with our red book is void to the extent of its inconsistency.

“The Senate is an institution with its one integrity that can’t just be rubbished”, Jimoh told his colleagues.

Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro, said the Senate remained one body, which must protect its rules, no matter the status of the person involved, describing the drama involving Natasha as “unnecessary”.

He added, “One of us from the North-Central had already apologised for the incident. Our rules must be obeyed and I apologise once again. We are sorry for what happened.

“The Senate has been in the public domain on a matter we were not elected for. In spite of some of the provocations, let’s tamper justice with mercy,” Moro stated.

Akpabio, while making his closing remarks on the saga, pointed out the inherent powers of the presiding officer of the Senate in Section 66 (1)(b) and Section 55, which provides for the conduct of senators on the floor.

“These rules are like the Bible in a church or the Quran in a mosque. I didn’t make them. They have to be obeyed,” Akpabio stressed.

Akpabio observed that the problem Sen. Natasha might have was caused by the fact that she resumed late to the 10th Senate and missed the opportunity of undergoing the orientation programme for new senators.

He directed the management of the National Assembly to ensure that henceforth, all “court-declared senators” must undergo orientation before being sworn in to begin work.