Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reaffirmed that the National Assembly will not succumb to the “disruptive instincts” of any lawmaker, stressing that the Senate’s commitment to enforcing its rules is essential to preserving order and upholding Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, titled “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate”, Akpabio explained that maintaining discipline and adherence to parliamentary rules was not an attempt to silence dissent but a necessary measure to protect the sanctity of legislative institutions.
His remarks followed recent tensions with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who has continued to challenge her six-month suspension after being recalled to the Senate.
“The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members,” Akpabio stated. “Democracy thrives only when its institutions are respected and its rules upheld. The discipline of parliamentary conduct is a universal marker of political civilisation.”
Drawing parallels with established global democracies, Akpabio cited the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, where “the authority of the Speaker is absolute and unchallenged,” noting that even popular lawmakers are not above the rules.
He stressed that the Nigerian Senate’s Standing Orders are not symbolic traditions but “a living constitution” designed to preserve fairness, consistency, and procedural integrity within the legislature.
Akpabio also defended the Senate’s right to discipline its members, saying, “In the world’s most respected parliaments, members who flout rules face swift consequences. Suspension or expulsion is not rare when a member’s behaviour undermines parliamentary dignity. Nigeria’s Senate has every right to apply similar standards.”
Describing the 10th Senate as “a chamber of resilience and balance,” Akpabio said the upper chamber’s leadership would continue to uphold democracy by ensuring “freedom within order,” which he described as “the truest form 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. This is how strong legislatures endure, not by silencing dissent, but by ensuring that dissent respects the bounds of procedure,” he explained.
Akpabio further said his leadership style was rooted in firmness and inclusivity, emphasizing that the Senate must remain a stabilising institution amid rising populism and public distrust.
“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 demonstrated that rules, properly enforced, are not instruments of oppression but shields against institutional decay.”
What you should know
Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the National Assembly will uphold discipline and order despite internal dissent.
He emphasized that enforcing parliamentary rules protects democracy, not stifles it, adding that strong legislatures thrive when freedom operates within established boundaries.
