There was mild drama during Tuesday’s plenary session in the Nigerian Senate as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted Senate President Godswill Akpabio after being denied the chance to speak on the issue of abortion.
Senator Natasha, visibly displeased, pleaded to be heard, saying, “Mr. Senate President, please may I speak. I’m a woman, and ab%rtion has to do with women it’s very important, sir.”
The Senate President responded that the matter had already been stepped down, but he briefly allowed her to add a comment if necessary.
“This has been stepped down in totality, distinguished senator, but if you have anything to add, you can say,” Akpabio stated.
However, former Edo State governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, immediately objected, insisting that parliamentary rules must be respected.
“Mr. President, we’ve been tutored over and over that when a matter has been concluded and you’ve dropped the gavel, if you grant an exception to distinguished Senator Natasha, then you must extend the same extension to us which makes our rule meaningless. The rule should be obeyed. We have said no discussion, and she should obey the rule,” Oshiomhole maintained.
In his final ruling, Akpabio clarified that he did not initially know the nature of Natasha’s intended comment, saying,
“I am not a spirit to know what the senator wants to say. If I knew, I would have referred her to Rule 52, Subsection 6. Since the Senate has come to a conclusion, it shall be out of order.”
He then ruled Senator Natasha out of order, ending the exchange.
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