The Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions over alleged disorderly conduct during a recent plenary session.
The decision followed a dispute over seat allocation in the chamber.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to present its findings.
The resolution was adopted through a voice vote on Tuesday, after lawmakers revisited the altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership.
Tensions flared during last Thursday’s plenary when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The confrontation led to heated exchanges in the chamber.
The situation escalated further after she appeared on Human Rights Radio on Friday, where she shared her experience and alleged political targeting.
Her remarks were later cited against her during Senate discussions.
Raising a motion under Orders 1(b) and 10, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu condemned what he called Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the February 20 session.
“From that Thursday, the media was awash with this issue, and I had to work on mending the perception of the 10th Senate,” Adaramodu stated. “The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight functions.”
He called for disciplinary action, warning that “Where there is sin, there must be a penalty.”
“This chamber is not a place for theatrics or social media content creation. We are here to legislate, advocate for our constituents, and oversee MDAs—not to engage in media dramatization,” he added.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim backed the motion, stressing the need for order and discipline in the Senate. He likened the Senate’s Standing Orders to sacred texts like the Bible and Quran, underscoring their importance in guiding legislative conduct.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also supported the motion, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to internal order.
“There is no one who does not have an opinion on this issue, but we are unified by our rules,” Bamidele said. “Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable.”
He dismissed claims that the dispute was linked to gender bias, pointing out that senior senators had previously accepted seat changes without protest.
Senator Abba Moro described the incident as an “avoidable drama” and apologized on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He urged the Senate to focus on its legislative duties while allowing the Ethics Committee to investigate the matter.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Ethics and Privileges Committee to conduct a review and report back to the chamber.
Akpabio clarified that Senate rules allow members to sit anywhere but require them to contribute from their designated seats. He suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s unfamiliarity with parliamentary procedures might have played a role in the dispute.
“The first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book,” Akpabio remarked. “There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure.”
Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, he reminded senators of the need for decorum, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water, or being disruptive during sittings.
“The rules empower the Senate President to suspend a senator for infractions for at least 14 days. It’s not me who made the rules—it’s in the rule book.”
With the matter now before the Ethics Committee, the Senate awaits the panel’s recommendations on the next course of action.
