Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the National Assembly will not allow itself to be controlled or held hostage by any lawmaker, stressing that discipline and respect for legislative procedures are vital to maintaining the strength of Nigeria’s democracy.
Akpabio made this known in a statement issued by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, titled “The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate.” He explained that the decision of the Senate to enforce its Standing Orders should not be seen as an attempt to suppress dissenting voices but as a move to safeguard institutional order and uphold the principles of democracy.
“The Senate belongs in that global fellowship of parliaments that recognise chaos as the heart of anarchy and order as the soul of democracy,” Akpabio said. “Its insistence on upholding internal discipline and protecting the authority of its leadership is not personal or punitive; it is institutional self-preservation.”
According to him, the chamber’s resolve not to be held hostage by any single member reflects the importance of collective responsibility over personal interests. “When the chamber asserts that it will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any member, it is affirming the primacy of collective responsibility over individual grandstanding,” he noted.
The Senate President also highlighted that parliamentary discipline is a global standard in democratic institutions, citing examples from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. He noted that respect for procedure is what ensures order in parliamentary debates and protects legislative integrity.
“In any democracy, the question is never whether there will be dissent but how it is handled,” Akpabio added. “The Tenth Senate has faced provocations and personality clashes but has chosen the path of principle over populism. Every time the Senate enforces its Standing Orders, it sends a message that Nigeria’s democracy is strong enough to discipline itself.”
