By Dapo Akinrefon, Henry Umaru, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Dickson Omobola

ABUJA —PRESIDENT of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, yesterday, cautioned critics against making uninformed comments on the affairs of the Senate, urging the public to understand parliamentary rules before engaging in debates.

This came as former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, described as “cheap politics and trivialising of a serious issue” the claim by Senator Akpabio that the call on him to ensure that transparent and open process was instituted to investigate the accusation levelled against him was an attempt to remove a Niger Delta person from office.

Meanwhile, SERAP, yesterday, urged the Senate to rescind the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan or be sued.

Akpabio gave the warning when he received a delegation from the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum in Abuja.

His remarks followed the recent suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, for violating Senate rules, a decision that Akpabio emphasised was unanimously supported by lawmakers.

Expressing concern over the growing trend of uninformed commentaries on television and social media, Akpabio said: “People who have no understanding of Senate procedures are the ones running commentaries on matters they know nothing about. You should seek the facts before making public statements. We advise members of the public to stop misquoting the rules of the Senate.”

He also criticised those outside the legislature for attempting to interpret Senate procedures, likening it to a herbalist trying to quote the Bible or someone unfamiliar with Islamic teachings attempting to interpret the Qur’an.

Responding to concerns raised by Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, leader of the delegation, Akpabio highlighted the historic significance of his role as Senate President, noting that the Niger Delta had last held the position 46 years ago.

He said: “The Senate President does not represent himself alone, he represents a region that is crucial to the economic survival of this country. So, we will not toy with this position, regardless of any opposition maneuvering.”

Don’t politicise call for due process in senate— Saraki
Meanwhile, Saraki, in a statement by the head of his media office in Abuja, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, yesterday, said: “The attention of the Saraki Media Office has been drawn to the statement made by Akpabio while addressing the leaders of some “youth ethnic groups” on Friday that certain individuals from Kwara and Adamawa states want him removed because he is from the Niger Delta region.




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/akpoti-uduaghan-saraki-serap-disagree-with-akpabio/