Senate President Godswill Akpabio has asserted that the Nigerian National Assembly will not succumb to the “disruptive instincts” of any individual lawmaker, emphasizing that discipline and respect for the Senate’s rules are essential for safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement released on Saturday by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio discussed the challenges and triumphs of the 10th Senate, stating that maintaining parliamentary order is not a means of silencing dissent but a necessary measure to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative institutions.
“The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members,” Akpabio declared. “Democracy thrives only when its institutions are respected and its rules upheld.”
While he did not single out any particular legislator, the comments come in the wake of ongoing tension surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who is contesting a six-month suspension from the Senate.
Akpabio stressed that the discipline within the Senate was in line with best practices in other advanced democracies such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, where parliamentary conduct is strictly regulated. He referred to the absolute authority of the Speaker in the UK’s House of Commons, where any defiance of the Speaker’s ruling is met with consequences.
“In the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, the authority of the Speaker is absolute and unchallenged,” Akpabio stated. “No member, regardless of party or popularity, may openly defy the Speaker’s ruling without consequences.”
He further defended the role of the Senate’s Standing Orders, insisting they were not merely ceremonial but a crucial part of Nigeria’s governance framework. These rules, Akpabio argued, were designed to preserve fairness, stability, and respect for leadership within the chamber.
“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 explained.
Drawing comparisons to respected parliamentary systems worldwide, Akpabio highlighted the common practice of suspending or expelling lawmakers who violate parliamentary conduct, including in the British House of Commons.
“In the world’s most respected parliaments, members who flout rules face swift consequences. 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 noted.
Describing the 10th Senate as a “chamber of resilience and balance,” Akpabio reiterated the Senate’s commitment to demonstrating that “freedom within order is the truest form of democracy.” He emphasized that the chamber’s refusal to be held hostage by any individual’s disruptive actions affirmed the importance of collective responsibility over personal grandstanding.
“This is how strong legislatures endure — not by silencing dissent, but by ensuring that dissent respects the bounds of procedure,” he asserted.
Akpabio also outlined his leadership philosophy, which he characterized as one of “firmness and inclusion.” In the face of growing populism and public disillusionment, he stressed that the Senate must remain a stabilizing force for the country.
“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,” Akpabio concluded.
