Confrontation in the Senate: Akpoti-Uduaghan Stands Firm
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, a heated exchange occurred in the Nigerian Senate between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The confrontation arose over a dispute regarding the reassignment of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat within the chamber.
Upon resumption of the session, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her seat had been relocated without her prior consent. Expressing her dissatisfaction, she refused to comply with the new seating arrangement. Chief Whip Senator Mohammed Ali Monguno highlighted her “improper seating position,” prompting Senate President Akpabio to uphold the reassignment order.
When Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to address the chamber from her original seat, she was denied recognition, leading her to protest vocally. She declared, “I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege.”
In response to her defiance, Senate President Akpabio instructed the sergeant-at-arms to escort Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan out of the chamber. However, interventions from fellow lawmakers eventually restored order, and she remained in the session without relocating to the newly assigned seat.
This incident is not the first public disagreement between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio. In July 2024, during a plenary session, Akpabio reprimanded Akpoti-Uduaghan for speaking without recognition, stating, “We are not in a nightclub.” He later issued a public apology for the remark, emphasizing that he did not intend to denigrate any woman.