Mild drama in senate as Akpabio, Natasha Akpoti clash during abortion bill debate

A mild drama ensued during plenary in the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, clashed over an amendment bill.

BACKGROUND

The Criminal Code Amendment Bill, sponsored in the house of representatives and presented for concurrence by Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, proposes stiffer penalties for individuals found guilty of aiding or procuring abortions.

Under the proposed amendment, the punishment for supplying drugs or instruments to carry out abortions would rise from three years to 10 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

The bill also aims to align Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act with evolving social, moral, and medical realities.

The debate became heated as senators disagreed over what constitutes an “unlawful abortion”.

Saliu Mustapha, senator representing Kwara central, argued that abortion could be medically or religiously justified in certain situations and should not automatically be treated as a crime.

Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, also raised concerns that the proposed amendment might discourage doctors from providing essential medical advice or interventions in life-threatening situations.

He called for the bill to be stepped down to allow for broader consultations “to avoid endangering lives”.

AKPABIO RULES AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN ‘OUT OF ORDER’

Akpabio had intervened to suspend further consideration of the bill, directing the senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters to review the contentious sections and report back within two weeks.

The motion to suspend was adopted through a voice vote.

Moments after Akpabio’s ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan raised her hand, appealing to be heard.

“Mr Senate President, please may I speak? I am a woman, as abortion has to do with women. It is very important, sir,” she said.

Akpabio responded that the matter had been “stepped down in totality”.

However, Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, raised a point of order, warning that allowing Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak after the gavel had dropped would violate the senate’s standing rules.

“If you grant the exemption to distinguished Senator Natasha, then you must extend the same exemption to us,” Oshiomhole argued.

“At the end, we shall have no rules. The rules should be firm and applied the way you have done.”

Akpabio upheld the objection, citing Rule 52, Sub-6, which prohibits reopening a matter once it has been concluded.

“I rule Senator Natasha out of order,” Akpabio said.

‘I’M DISAPPOINTED’

Afterwards, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed disappointment that she was prevented from contributing to the debate on the bill.

The senator said she felt excluded from a conversation that directly concerns women’s rights and health.

“I am disappointed I wasn’t allowed to speak about an issue that concerns women,” Akpoti-Uduaghan told TheCable after plenary on Tuesday.

“I am a woman, a mother, and I feel like I should have been recognised to speak — especially as we were only two women in the senate today during plenary — myself and Senator Banigo.

“My hand was up throughout the debate and I felt that the senate president should have recognised me.”

She added that she remains passionate about issues affecting women and intend to make her inputs when the bill reaches the committee stage.

Akpoti-Uduaghan recently returned from a six-month suspension. 

On February 20, the Kogi central lawmaker sparred with Akpabio over seat allocation.

On February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the senate president of making sexual advances at her.

She was suspended from the red chamber on March 6 for gross misconduct.