Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that senators who reclaim their electoral mandates through the courts pose a challenge to the Senate. His remarks came on Tuesday as he announced that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, would face a disciplinary panel following her outburst over seat reallocation in the red chamber.
Akpabio also directed the National Assembly management to conduct regular orientation sessions for senators who join mid-term. According to him, such lawmakers, who did not begin their tenure with their colleagues, need guidance on Senate protocols.
“The management of the National Assembly is hereby ordered to organize periodic orientation, particularly for senators who joined midstream and did not start when their colleagues started,” Akpabio stated. He recalled an incident on the day Akpoti-Uduaghan was sworn in, noting that she immediately attempted to speak without first familiarizing herself with Senate procedures.
Read also: Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan to face Senate’s disciplinary committee after conflict with Akpabio
The controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan began when her seat was reassigned within the Senate chamber. The Kogi senator, originally seated in the minority section, was moved to the last row—a decision she strongly resisted. Her refusal to accept the new seating arrangement was deemed a violation of Senate rules.
In response, Akpabio announced that she would now face a disciplinary panel, which would conduct an investigation and report its findings to the chamber.
