Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the National Assembly will not be held hostage by the “disruptive instincts” of any of its members, stressing that discipline and respect for parliamentary rules are vital to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
Akpabio stated this in a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, titled “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate.”
According to him, enforcing the Senate’s rules is not intended to silence dissenting voices but to preserve order, institutional integrity, and democratic stability.
“The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members. Democracy thrives only when its institutions are respected and its rules upheld,” Akpabio said.
Although the Senate President did not mention any specific lawmaker, his remarks come amid renewed tension involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who recently returned to the chamber after serving a six-month suspension, which she continues to contest.
Akpabio emphasised that discipline in parliamentary conduct is a hallmark of all advanced democracies, citing examples from legislatures in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
“The discipline of parliamentary conduct is a universal marker of political civilisation,” he said. “In the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, the authority of the Speaker is absolute and unchallenged. No member, regardless of party or popularity, may openly defy the Speaker’s ruling without consequences.”
He maintained that the Senate’s Standing Orders were not outdated or symbolic but core instruments of governance meant to protect fairness, stability, and institutional leadership.
“The Nigerian Senate’s Standing Orders are not ceremonial relics from the past. They are the living constitution of the institution, designed to preserve fairness, consistency, and the sanctity of the legislative process,” he added.
The Senate President further defended the right of the legislature to discipline erring members, drawing parallels with other democracies where lawmakers face suspension or expulsion for misconduct.
“In the world’s most respected parliaments, members who flout rules face swift consequences. The Nigerian Senate has every right to apply similar standards to protect its integrity,” he stated.
Describing the 10th Senate as “a chamber of resilience and balance,” Akpabio said the upper chamber remains committed to demonstrating that freedom within order represents the truest expression of democracy.
“When the chamber asserts that it will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any single member, it is affirming the primacy of collective responsibility over individual grandstanding,” Akpabio noted.
“This is how strong legislatures endure — not by silencing dissent, but by ensuring that dissent respects the bounds of procedure.”
He added that his leadership style is guided by firmness, inclusion, and institutional stability, noting that enforcing parliamentary discipline is crucial in an era of rising populism and public cynicism.
“Leadership of this sort does not seek applause; it seeks stability,” he said. “By upholding its Standing Orders, the Senate has reclaimed its moral authority and shown that rules, properly enforced, are not instruments of oppression but shields against institutional decay.”
Akpabio’s comments come amid ongoing debates on legislative discipline and the limits of free expression within parliamentary settings, reflecting the Senate’s determination to maintain order while protecting democratic values.
