The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has suggested that senators who reclaim their electoral mandate via courts constitute a challenge to the senate.
Akpabio stated this on Tuesday while announcing that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central will face senate disciplinary panel over her seat reallocation outburst in the red chamber.
On February 20, the lawmaker representing Kogi central sparred with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat allocation.
The Kogi lawmaker disrupted the plenary by rejecting her assigned seat, defying Akpabio’s order and repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled.
However, on the chamber reached a resolution to send her to disciplinary panel on Tuesday during plenary, following consideration and adoption of a report presented by Yemi Adaramodu, the chamber’s spokesperson.
He said attempts to clarify the senate’s position have been unsuccessful as the public already have their opinion on the incident based on the Kogi lawmaker’s action.
Senators unanimously approved that the matter be referred to the committee after it was put to a voice vote by Akpabio.
Akpabio asked the committee on ethics and privileges to review the entire incident and report back to the senate.
He noted that house rules permit members to sit anywhere, however, they are required to make contributions from their assigned seats.
He suggested that a lack of familiarity with senate procedures may have played a role in the dispute.
The Senate President also ordered the management of the National Assembly to organize periodic orientation for senators who joined their colleagues midway.
Akpabio said: “The management of the National Assembly is hereby ordered to organize periodic orientation, particularly for senators who are mid streamers, who came mid stream and did not start when they are colleagues started.
“I remember that this particular senator, on the day she was sworn in, raised her hand to speak. I was scared, but I had to recognize her, because I was saying we just gave her the rule book.”
