Oshiomhole, Natasha Clash as Akpabio Rules Her Out of Order

A mild drama unfolded at the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday as former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, confronted Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over a procedural breach. The exchange occurred after Senator Natasha attempted to revisit a clause concerning abortion, despite the matter being previously ruled upon.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio had earlier declared the abortion issue “stepped down in totality.” However, Senator Natasha sought to contribute further, stating, “Mr. Senate President, please may I speak? I’m a woman and abortion has to do with women. It’s very important, sir.”

Akpabio acknowledged her request but reminded her of the prior ruling. “This has been stepped down in view of the Convention. But if you have anything to add, you can say,” he stated.

Senator Oshiomhole immediately raised a point of order, arguing that allowing further discussion would violate Senate procedures. “When a matter has been concluded and you have dropped the gavel,” Oshiomhole stated, “the rule should be obeyed.” He emphasized that granting exemptions would undermine parliamentary order and set a dangerous precedent.

Upholding Parliamentary Procedure

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The former governor stressed the importance of consistent rule application. “If you begin to exercise discretion of granting exemption here, you have to grant exemption there. And here, we shall have no rules,” Oshiomhole argued. He maintained that the Senate’s rules should be applied firmly without exception.

Senate President Akpabio upheld Oshiomhole’s point of order, citing specific parliamentary rules. He referenced Rule 52, Sub 6, which states: “It shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Senator has come to a conclusion during the current session, except upon a substantive motion for rescission.”

Final Ruling on the Matter

Akpabio concluded that Senator Natasha’s attempt to revisit the abortion clause was procedurally improper. “Since the Senate has come to a conclusion and has stepped down this, it shall be out of order. So I rule Senator Natasha out of order,” he declared.

The exchange highlighted the strict adherence to parliamentary procedures in the Senate, with Oshiomhole’s intervention ensuring that established rules were maintained. The incident demonstrated how Senate rules govern deliberations, even on sensitive matters like abortion, ensuring orderly legislative processes.