By Bukola Kayode
The Senate on Tuesday resolved to probe the clash between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio over a change of her seat in the Red Chamber.
The Senate resolved to have the Kogi Senator appear before its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to investigate the matter and submit its findings.
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The resolution of the Senate followed the adoption of a motion raised under Senate Orders 1(b) and 10, by the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu. The Senator condemned what he described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the February 20 plenary session.
According to him, the Senate has been the topic of discussion following the episode, which has also been condemned by women groups who alleged that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senator Ireti Kingibe have been bullied.
Also speaking in support of the motion, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele reiterated the chamber’s commitment to maintaining order and integrity.
He said: “Everyone has an opinion on this issue, but we are bound by our rules. Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable”.
Bamidele debunked claims that the case is a case of gender bias, saying that other senior senators had accepted seat changes without protest.
In his ruling, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Ethics Committee to conduct a thorough review of the incident and report back to the chamber.
He described Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a senator who came in through the courts and she wasn’t orientated properly on the procedures of the Senate.
“The first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book. There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure,” Akpabio said.
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