The Nigerian Senate has indicated it will not bow to public pressure or sentiment in the standoff over Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, declaring that any matter before the courts is off-limits, even as criticism mounts over her blocked return to the chamber.
At a heated capacity-building workshop on “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities” on Wednesday, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu delivered a pointed message:
“Standing Order 40(1) says any matter that is in court shall not be entertained. Our Standing Orders are constitutional, Section 60 empowers each House to regulate its own procedure. Rules are rules. If you are supposed to sit on seat number 10 and you take seat number 13, you will not be recognised. But oftentimes the public interprets such procedures as if parliament is a banana republic.”
The remark underscored a deepening rift over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s status. Despite the expiration of her six-month suspension, National Assembly management has barred her return until a Court of Appeal ruling, citing the need to avoid sub judice.
Adaramodu, a veteran journalist urged parliamentary correspondents to close the knowledge gap between lawmakers and the public, warning that sensational or sloppy reporting can inflame tensions and distort legislative intent.
“Parliamentary reporting is not just another beat, it is perhaps the most important. Misreporting diminishes both parliament and the press,” he said, recalling an instance where a misleading report about a higher institution allocation triggered local backlash against him.
He cautioned reporters to resist partisan pressure and sensational headlines, reminding them of Section 22 of the Constitution, which entrusts the press with the “sacred” duty of fair and responsible oversight.
Adaramodu disclosed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approved quarterly retreats to improve reporters’ grasp of legislative procedures, an apparent bid to prevent future clashes between parliament and the media.
The Senate’s uncompromising stance signals that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return will hinge solely on the judiciary’s ruling, not political sentiment.
It also sets the stage for intensified scrutiny of the chamber’s strict adherence to its rules, a move supporters say protects institutional integrity but critics view as silencing an elected lawmaker.