Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that the National Assembly will not allow any member to disrupt its activities or compromise the integrity of the Senate. He stressed that discipline and respect for parliamentary rules are necessary to protect Nigeria’s democracy.
Akpabio made this known in a statement released 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 about silencing anyone but about maintaining order and safeguarding democratic institutions.
“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 he did not mention any lawmaker, his comment comes amid renewed attention on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, who recently returned from a six-month suspension she continues to challenge.
According to Okay News, Akpabio noted that discipline in parliamentary proceedings is a key feature of every developed democracy. He compared Nigeria’s Senate to other legislative bodies such as the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, Canada’s Parliament, and Australia’s legislature, where adherence to rules is taken seriously.
“The discipline of parliamentary conduct is a universal marker of political civilization. In the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, the authority of the Speaker is absolute and unchallenged. No member, no matter their status, can defy the Speaker’s ruling without consequences,” he explained.
The Senate President added that the Senate’s Standing Orders are not outdated but are essential to ensure fairness, stability, and respect for leadership. “The Nigerian Senate’s Standing Orders are not ceremonial relics from the past. They are the living constitution of the institution, carefully designed to preserve fairness, consistency, and the sanctity of the legislative process,” he said.
Akpabio also stated that it is within the legislature’s right to discipline any member who violates parliamentary order, just like in other democracies. He pointed out that in countries such as the United Kingdom, lawmakers who break rules often face suspension or expulsion to maintain the dignity of parliament.
“In respected parliaments around the world, members who flout rules face quick consequences. Suspension or expulsion is not uncommon when a member’s conduct undermines parliamentary integrity. Nigeria’s Senate has every right to uphold similar standards,” he said.
Akpabio described the 10th Senate as a “chamber of resilience and balance,” saying that its leadership is committed to showing that true democracy means freedom within the bounds of order. “When the chamber insists it will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any single member, it is affirming the importance of collective responsibility over personal interests,” he said.
He explained that his leadership style combines firmness with inclusiveness, noting that the upper chamber must continue to be a stabilizing force at a time when public confidence and populist sentiments are rising.
“Leadership of this nature does not seek applause; it seeks stability. By upholding its Standing Orders, the Senate has restored its moral authority and shown that rules, when rightly enforced, are not tools of suppression but safeguards against institutional decay,” Akpabio said.
His statement comes as discussions continue over the extent of legislative discipline and the boundaries of free expression within parliamentary settings.
