Disobedience to the orders of the Senate President is an act of contempt and is punishable under the rules of the Senate
As a form of protest over what they deemed to be a disrespectful behavior on the part of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan toward the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, at a recent plenary session, a group of South-South Women organized a demonstration on Saturday in Yenagoa, which is located in Bayelsa State.
The women who were participating in the demonstration, who were holding placards that read “Natasha Disgraceful to Niger Delta Women,” “Natasha Focus on Solutions, Not Insults,” among other things. They condemned her alleged behavior and demanded that she publicly apologize or face disciplinary action in accordance with the rules of the Senate.
Following the conclusion of the demonstration, the leader of the women’s group, Hon. Ebiere Akpobesa, addressed the media at the Oxbow Lake pavilion in Yenagoa.
She expressed her dissatisfaction with the Kogi Central Senator’s behavior, which consisted of disregarding the seating arrangements of the Senate and raising her voice despite being ruled out of order.
She also criticized her conduct, stating that they were unacceptable for a politician and that she had refused to leave the chamber when she was requested to do so.
- The women leader stated, “We, the members of this group, are not comfortable with the rude and unethical behaviour exhibited by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against our revered Senate President.
- “The rules are meant to be obeyed and she cannot consider herself above the law by flouting the laid-down procedures of the Senate.
- “She ought to know that unless the Senate President recognises her, she cannot speak.
- “This is not a lawless country or a chaotic parliament where everyone speaks at will. Her decision to continue addressing the Senate after the gavel had been struck overruling her was highly uncivilised.
Akpoti-Uduaghan should be sanctioned and suspended until she apologises to Senate President Akpabio, the Senate, and the South-South region, according to the women’s leader who praised Senate President Akpabio for his leadership and dedication to women’s participation in government.
In the event that she did not apologize, she threatened that she would become an adversary of women from the South-South.
The women leader urged female politicians to uphold respect and decency in governance, stating that African women are known for their decorum and should serve as positive examples in public service environments.
“You cannot talk back to the Senate President as if he is your contemporary. The Senate President is the first among equals and wields enormous legal authority. Disobedience to the orders of the Senate President is an act of contempt and is punishable under the rules of the Senate,” she added.