The Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review following a dispute over seating arrangements.

The decision came after a heated exchange between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20, when she discovered that her seat had been changed without prior notice.

Chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo South), the Ethics Committee has been given two weeks to investigate and report back on the matter.

Raising a motion under Senate Orders 1(b) and 10, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reaction, calling it “extreme intransigence” and emphasizing the need for discipline. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also backed the motion, stressing the importance of maintaining order in the chamber.

In response, Akpabio noted that while Senate rules allow members to sit anywhere, they must contribute from their designated seats. He suggested that unfamiliarity with procedure may have played a role in the altercation, stating, “There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure.”

Citing Senate Order 66(2) and Section 55, Akpabio reminded lawmakers that decorum must be maintained, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water, or being disruptive during sessions. He also noted that the Senate President has the authority to suspend a senator for at least 14 days for infractions.

The committee’s findings will determine if further disciplinary action is necessary.