Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on Tuesday refused to read an apology prepared for her upon resumption to the Senate weeks after she was suspended.
The ensuing confrontation between her and Senate Speaker Amason Amason Kingi quickly escalated the situation and ended with her walking out of the House without apologising.
According to Kingi, one of the stipulations of Orwoba's return was for her to deliver an apology to the Senate after her 79-day suspension was reduced to 30 days. "In accordance with the resolutions passed on September 30, 2023, and on February 26, 2025, Senator Gloria Orwoba is expected to tender an apology to the Senate, Honourable Senators, the Clerk of the Senate, and the Secretariat of Parliament before being admitted to the Senate," stated Kingi. "I now invite Senator Gloria Orwoba to tender an apology in a manner prescribed in the report of the committee on powers and privileges and as adopted by the Senate." She was expected to read the apology verbatim without any omissions or additions. "Mr Speaker, I, Senator Gloria Orwoba, hereby tender my unreserved apology to this Senate.
I undertake that I shall abide by the responsibilities of leadership as set out in the constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act 2012, and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act 2017.
