Senate President Godwin Akpabio has stated that the Court of Appeal judgment upholding the suspension of Senator Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan affirms the constitutional principle of separation of powers and reinforces the Senate’s authority to regulate its internal affairs.
In a statement issued Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio described the ruling delivered on Monday, February 9, 2026, as a significant affirmation of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
According to the statement, the appellate court upheld the Senate’s disciplinary action as lawful and procedurally sound, thereby reinforcing the legislature’s constitutional authority to regulate its proceedings and discipline members.
“The verdict confirms with unmistakable clarity that the authority of the Senate to regulate its internal proceedings and discipline its members is firmly rooted in the Constitution and its Standing Orders,” the statement read.
Akpabio maintained that the authority is “neither incidental nor ornamental,” but an essential responsibility aimed at preserving order, decorum and institutional integrity in the discharge of legislative duties.
He further noted that while the Court of Appeal set aside the contempt proceedings and associated fine on procedural grounds, the core findings affirming the Senate’s disciplinary powers remained intact.
“The Court has further enriched our constitutional jurisprudence by clearly delineating the proper limits of judicial intervention in the internal affairs of a coordinate arm of government,” the statement added.
The Senate President also described the events leading to the litigation as regrettable, citing persistent refusal to comply with directives of the Presiding Officer, including seating reallocation within the chamber, and failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
He said such actions risk undermining institutional authority and distracting from the Senate’s core responsibilities of legislation, oversight and representation.
Akpabio stressed that the Senate remains committed to reconciliation and institutional maturity, noting that the affected senator has since resumed legislative duties.
He expressed hope that all members would continue to uphold parliamentary rules, mutual respect and collective responsibility in the interest of democratic stability and good governance.