There was a mild drama in the Senate chamber on Thursday after the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, ordered the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, out of the chamber.
The altercation stemmed from a report by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, who informed the Senate that Senator Natasha had refused to relocate to a new seat assigned to her.
Monguno added that the reassignment was intended to close gaps left by two defecting opposition senators who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from a minority party.
Citing Order 24, Monguno highlighted his authority as Chief Whip and referenced Order 6, which grants the Senate President the power to reassign senators’ seats at any time. He further noted that senators can only speak from their designated seats, reinforcing Akpabio’s authority to deny recognition to anyone speaking from an unassigned seat.
However, Senator Natasha stood from her original seat and attempted to invoke Order 10, arguing that her privileges had been violated. Akpabio then ruled her out of order, asserting that she could not be recognized while speaking from an unauthorized seat.
Visibly frustrated, Natasha accused Akpabio of deliberately silencing her voice and denying her the opportunity to contribute to motions. She claimed her bills had been repeatedly blocked from reaching the second reading.
She said she will not be shoved to the corner and that the worst Akpabio can do is suspend her. She stressed that even if she is suspended she will continue serving her people in Kogi Central and the women of Nigeria
Natasha further alleged that Akpabio had discriminated against her, maligned, and dehumanized her.
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“I am not afraid of you,” she told Akpabio. “Do whatever you deem fit, but I will not leave this seat. My voice will not be silenced.”
She challenged his authority to suspend her when she is a lawmaker that was duly elected by members of her constituency.
Her two colleagues from Kogi State intervened, condemning her behaviour and apologising on her behalf.
The Chairman of the Kogi Senate Caucus, Sen. Isa Jibrin, apologised to Akpabio.
“The recent movement of the senators is attributable to the defection of Sen Ned Nwoko.
“The reaction of Natasha is uncalled for, and I want to sincerely apologise to the Senate President and to the entire Senate on behalf of Sen. Natasha”, he said.
Another Kogi senator, Karimi Sunday, also advised Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, in his response, Akpabio doused the tension and appealed to senators not to escalate the issue further.
This would not be the first time Akpabio and Senator Natasha are locking horns in the chambers.
IntelRegion reports in July 2024 that Akpabio had his first brush with Natasha when the latter was interrupting proceedings.
Akpabio had reacted, “Senator Natasha, you cannot speak without being asked or invited to speak in the Senate. This is not a nightclub.”
Akpabio’s remarks generated controversies and immediately went viral on social media because they were perceived to be derogatory.
A week following the encounter, Akpabio had to apologise to the female lawmaker.
