By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Senate on Thursday expressed displeasure at the refusal of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to stand up as the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was being ushered in on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
The Red Chamber stressed that regardless of the personal opinion of a legislator about certain developments in the Senate the rules and orders of the legislative institution must be respected.
Rising on Order 55(1), the Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Monguno pointed out that “it is the Rules and Order of the Senate that when the Senate President is being ushered into the chamber by the Sergeant-at-arms, all senators must stand up”.
The chief whip regretted that Natasha disrespected the Rules and Order of the Senate on Wednesday and Thursday by refusing to stand up like other senators, as required, when Akpabio entered the chamber.
He called on the female lawmaker to abide by the rules, irrespective of any circumstances, noting that the institution must be protected at all costs.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio sustained the order and urged all senators to be guided. Natasha’s behaviour may have been prompted by her ongoing issue with Akpabio.
The Kogi lawmaker has alleged that the Senate President made sexual advances at her which she rejected, stressing that the development is responsible for the hostile disposition of Akpabio to her in the Senate Chamber.
The brewing hostility between the duo came to a head on Friday, last week, when there was an altercation between Natasha and Akpabio over seat relocation.
