Senate President Insists Discipline, Respect for Rules Essential to Preserve Democracy
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the National Assembly will not allow its operations to be impeded or “held hostage” by the “disruptive instincts” of any single member.
He insisted that enforcing discipline and respecting parliamentary rules are crucial to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
Akpabio’s affirmation was made in a statement released through his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, and comes amid recent internal clashes and suspensions within the upper chamber.
The Senate President emphasized that the decision to enforce the chamber’s Standing Orders is not about silencing dissent but maintaining order, aligning Nigeria’s legislature with global democratic standards.
”The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members,” Akpabio declared.
He argued that maintaining strict parliamentary conduct is the “hallmark of every advanced democracy,” drawing comparisons to legislatures in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Akpabio defended the legislature’s right to enforce its rules, noting that in respected parliaments worldwide, “members who flout rules face swift consequences.”
He concluded that the Senate’s stance prioritizes institutional stability over individual behavior, asserting the principle of collective responsibility.
”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,” the statement read. “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.”
