…Says discipline, respect for rules vital to democracy’s survival
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has insisted that no member of the National Assembly will be allowed to hold the institution hostage through what he described as “disruptive instincts,” stressing that discipline and adherence to rules remain vital to preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
Akpabio stated this on Saturday in a statement by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, titled “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate.”
He maintained that enforcing parliamentary rules was not meant to stifle dissenting voices, but to maintain order and protect 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 declared.
Although he did not mention any lawmaker, Akpabio’s remarks come amid renewed tension surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, who recently returned from a six-month suspension that she continues to challenge.
The Senate President noted that discipline in parliamentary conduct is a defining feature of advanced democracies, adding that the Nigerian Senate operates under the same democratic ethos that guide legislatures in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
He said, “The discipline of parliamentary conduct is a universal marker of political civilisation. In the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, the authority of the Speaker is absolute and unchallenged. No member, regardless of party or popularity, may openly defy the Speaker’s ruling without consequences.”
Akpabio stressed that the Senate’s rules were not obsolete or symbolic, but crucial for maintaining fairness, stability, and respect for institutional 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 added.
Defending the legislature’s power to sanction erring members, Akpabio drew parallels with global parliamentary systems where lawmakers face disciplinary measures for misconduct.
“In the world’s most respected parliaments, members who flout rules face swift consequences. In the British House of Commons, suspension or expulsion is not rare when a member’s behaviour undermines parliamentary dignity. Nigeria’s Senate has every right to apply similar standards,” he said.
Describing the 10th Senate as “a chamber of resilience and balance,” Akpabio said its leadership was committed to upholding “freedom within order,” which he described as the purest expression of democracy.
He explained, “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.”
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State noted that his leadership approach blended firmness with inclusiveness, insisting that the Senate must remain a stabilising force amid the wave of populism and public distrust.
“Leadership of this sort does not seek applause; it seeks stability. 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,” Akpabio stated.
His comments come amid ongoing debates on legislative discipline and the limits of free expression within parliamentary proceedings.