Senate Refers Natasha To Disciplinary Committee Over Seating Arrangement Dispute

The Senate has unanimously voted to refer Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review, following her a recent seating arrangement dispute.

The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to report back on its findings.

Following a voice vote, lawmakers reexamined the controversy surrounding the recent altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership regarding seat allocation, with lawmakers supporting the need to uphold parliamentary decorum and rules.

In a motion raised under Order 1 (b) and 10, condemning what he described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the Senate session on February 20, Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, revived the saga on the floor, stating that “from that Thursday, the media was awash with this issue and I had to work on mending the perception of the 10th Senate. The Senate serves as a place for legislative and oversight functions rather than a platform for creating content.

READ ALSO: Drama Unfolds In Senate Over Seat Arrangement

He urged the Senate leadership to enforce discipline, warning that “Where there is sin, there must be a penalty”.

Supporting Adaramodu, the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, also weighed in, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to its rules and internal order.

No one, in his opinion, has an opinion on this subject, but we are all bound by our rules, he claims. We will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited, according to our watch. Integrity is non-negotiable”.

He refuted claims that the conflict was caused by discrimination or gender bias, citing instances of senior senators who had resisted seat changes without speaking out.

The Committee on Ethics and Privileges received a report from the Senate President Godswill Akpabio in response.

According to Akpabio, Senate rules require members to have a seat at any time, but they must also make contributions from their designated seats. He claimed that the altercation may have been caused by Senate procedures.

He claimed that “she stood up when she was sworn in, and I was concerned if she had even read the rule book.” There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure”.

He cited Senate Rules 66 (2) and Section 55, which forbid the consumption of gum, water, or other disruptive behavior by senators.

Source: Channels TV