News
Akpabio: Natasha, court-ordered Senator, inexperienced *Set for Senate hammer
Godswill Akapabio, President of the Senate, on Tuesday, upped the ante over last week’s engagement with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator representing Kogi Central at the National Assembly, all but describing her as grossly inexperienced, which manifested in her conduct that was completely at variance with parliamentary rules.
Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, spoke on the day the Senate referred the case of the Senator, which threw the legislative chambers into a rowdy session on Thursday, February 20 to the Ethics, Code of Conducts and Public Petitions, to treat the matter, as members called for sanctions against her.
Before the motion was put to the floor, Akpabio, who harped on the need to study the ground rules of the Senate by all the lawmakers, ordered the NASS administration to make it mandatory to organise periodic training for members, especially those coming late into the chambers.
Using the case of Akpoti-Uduaghan, he narrated how she began to falter from the first day of joining the Senate even before opening the rulebooks, adding that the penchant for hastiness in engaging on the floor without the rudiments of learning the ropes that led to embarrassing confrontation, last week.
Hear him: “Even the first time the issue came up here, our distinguished sister was not even speaking from her seat and that was when we tried to call her to order. I think part of the problem is when people come from the courts – court-declared Senators – they miss the orientation.
“The management of the National Assembly is hereby ordered to organise periodic orientations particularly for Senators who are mid-streamers, who came midstream and did not start when their colleagues started. I remember that this particular Senator on the day she was sworn in, raised her hand to speak.
“I was scared, but I had to recognise her, because I was saying, we just gave her the rulebook – part of what we give to you is the standing order of the Senate – so, I said, has she even opened the rulebook to know what she’s going to say?
“But she made a contribution on that day and I think two days later she brought a motion. There’s nothing wrong about being vibrant, but there’s a lot wrong when you don’t know about the procedure. You can’t be a reverend father and go and start a church service with communion. You must lay the foundation.”
Akpabio cited Order 66(2) and Section 55 of Senate rules, which empowered him to walk out unruly members from the Senate chambers even for a whole day’s session, maintaining that there must be decorum.
Stressing the need for order and discipline within the assembly chambers, the former governor said that even Senators who engaged in other unwelcome conducts such chewing gum, drinking water or being disruptive during sittings, risked being sanctioned.
“The rules empower the Senate President to suspend a senator for infractions for at least 14 days. It’s not me who made the rules, it’s in the rule book,” he added.
The Senate, however, unanimously voted to refer the matter to the committee for disciplinary review over the issue prompted from the Kogi Senator’s rejection of a rearranged sitting arrangement, which would require her moving from her original seat to another.
The Senate referred the matter to the Committee headed by Neda Imaseun, after revisiting the controversy, which has continued to attract public commentaries through a motion raised under Order 1(b) and 10, regarding the sponsors described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence.”
Brought by Yemi Adaramodu, Senate spokesman, who stated that the media had been awash with the issue, stressed how he had been working on mending the perception of the 10th Senate, adding: “The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight functions. The Senate leadership must enforce discipline. Where there is sin, there must be a penalty.”
Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader, echoing the sentiments, added: “There is no one who does not have an opinion on this issue, but we are unified by our rules. Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable.”
From the seat of the Presidency, came what indicates a clear and open support for the camp in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) fighting David Mark, National Secretary and Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary, respectively.
The signal came from Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, who practically threw his weight behind Leke Abejide, one of the arrowheads wedging the war that could see the main opposition party in Nigeria not presenting a candidate for next year’s presidential election.
Against the backdrop of allegations that Aso Rock has been fuelling the various crises in the major political parties, Gbajabiamila, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, all but clearly stoked the fire by egging the Kogi lawmaker on to launch a fiercer onslaught against the Mark leadership.
Urging Abejide, who had sworn that he would do everything to ensure Tinubu’s re-election not to leave the ADC, through which he won his election to the National Assembly in 2023, but to stay back and fight rather than exiting the party, the ex-Speaker praised him for his resilience so far.
Abejide, who on his own, has thrown his weight behind Nafiu Bala, former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, now laying claims to Mark’s position was one of those sacked at the convention organised by the Mark group last week.
But Gbajabiamila, who used the Kogi lawmaker’s birthday celebration on Monday to announce his support publicly, while hailing his political trajectory and resilience, including winning his election under the ADC – a relatively less-fancied platform in 2023.
His words: “For a man to contest in a place like Kogi, under a relatively unknown party, and win back-to-back elections, it tells you who that man is. You did not only secure re-election but also helped expand the party’s influence by bringing in other candidates. You’re a committed party man and a fighter.
“My charge to you is to stay in that same party. Fight them. Scatter them. Hold on to your party. Do not abandon them. We like what you are doing. Hold on to your party. Do not abandon it. Continue what you are doing. Win your election there. Nobody can take your party away from you.”
After the hammer from the Mark group, alongside Kingsley Temitope, Obinna Norman, Kennedy Odiong, and Stella Chukwuma, over the allegation of anti-party activities, Abejide dismissed his sack as null and void, coming from a “suya convention.”
President Bola Tinubu and others interested in the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will have to cough out a whopping N100million as fee for the nomination form of the ruling party.
This is coming as the party released details of its scheduled presidential primary election billed for May 15 and 16, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Sulaiman Argungu, National Organising Secretary, who released the details of the activities of the party ahead of the nomination for the 2027 polls on its official X handle, including the sale of forms, screening of aspirants, appeals, and primary elections across all elective positions, said informed that the forms go on sale from April 25 to May 2, while the submission deadline was fixed for May 4.
The statement said screening of aspirants would commence on May 6 and end on May 8, with the publication of results slated for May 11 and appeals scheduled for May 12 to 13.
The primaries for the House of Representatives will be held on May 18, the Senate on May 20, State Houses of Assembly on May 21, and the governorship on May 23.
The party pegged the total cost of forms for presidential aspirants at ₦100 million, comprising ₦30 million for the expression of interest and ₦70 million for nomination.
Governorship aspirants are to pay ₦50 million, while fees for the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assembly vary.
“Female aspirants, youth and physically challenged aspirants are to pay for the expression of interest and 50 per cent of the prescribed nomination fees for each position,” it added.
In the statement, the APC said the timetable was issued in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2026, and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party reaffirmed its commitment to conducting “credible and transparent primary elections” to strengthen internal democracy.
As of the time for filing this report, no member of the APC has formally declared interest in contesting the presidency.
Some APC leaders and key affiliations of the party have, however, endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election.
Although Tinubu has not publicly or officially declared his intention to run for a second term, he had last week dismissed the speculation that he was scared of the opposition ahead of the elections.
“The safety of our citizens rests on our shoulders. You must remain resolute and go after these criminals until they are eliminated. We must make Nigeria safe at all cost,” were the words with which Olufemi Oluyede Chief of Defence Staff, read the riot act for the umpteenth time against insurgents terrorising many parts of Nigeria.
Against the backdrop of renewed attacks in parts of the country days after the killing of Oseni Omoh Braimah a Brigadier General and I.A. Muhammed, a Colonel, each commanding troops in Borno State, one of the hotbeds of the nearly two decades onslaught in separate outbreaks, the CDS told troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to intensify ongoing operations against the terrorists and other criminal elements in the North-West region, stressing the need to ensure security across the country.
At an operational visit to the Headquarters Theatre Command, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), in Gusau, Zamfara State, the military boss who said the visit was aimed at assessing operational readiness, addressing challenges confronting troops, and boosting morale in the ongoing campaign to restore peace and security in the region, commended their resilience, courage, and sacrifices in defence of the nation.
Urging the troops to remain disciplined, professional, and relentless in the fight against banditry and terrorism, the CDS, whose encounter was conveyed by Samaila Uba, a Major General and spokesman, at the Defence headquarters was said to have assured the troops of continued support in the areas of welfare, training, and provision of necessary operational equipment to enable them to discharge their duties effectively.
Uba, Director of Defence Information, quoted his boss as reaffirming the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to sustaining pressure on criminal groups until lasting peace is restored across the North West and the entire nation, acknowledging the importance of air support in ongoing operations.
The Defence Chief, while noting that efforts were underway to enhance operational capabilities through additional platforms and improved coordination across theatres of operations, was said to have paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, appreciating him for his continued support of Operation FANSAN YAMMA and the military.
ADC: Fight, scatter them! *Presidency goads Kogi lawmaker on Mark’s leadership
Presidency: Tinubu, others to pay N100million for APC nominations
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