On February 20, 2025, during a Senate plenary session, an altercation occurred between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central. The dispute arose when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to relocate to a newly assigned seat, a reassignment intended to adjust for shifts caused by some opposition members moving to the majority wing of the Senate chamber.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno cited Senate rules to justify the seat reassignment, emphasizing that such adjustments were within the constitutional prerogative of the Senate leadership. Despite this, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stood her ground, attempting to invoke Order 10 and arguing that her privileges had been violated. In response, Senate President Akpabio ruled her out of order, stating she could not be recognized while speaking from an unauthorized seat.
Visibly frustrated, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of deliberately silencing her and denying her the opportunity to contribute to motions. She claimed her bills had been repeatedly blocked from reaching the second reading and stated, "I am not afraid of you." Akpabio then ordered the sergeant-at-arms to escort her out of the chamber. After interventions from various lawmakers, calm was restored, but Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan declined to move to the reassigned seat.
This incident is not the first confrontation between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan. In July 2024, a similar disagreement occurred when Akpoti-Uduaghan commented on a motion without Akpabio's consent, leading to a comparison of her conduct to that of a nightclub. Akpabio later apologized for the remark.
A video capturing the recent altercation shows lawmakers attempting to pacify Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as she justifies her actions.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, born on December 9, 1979, is a Nigerian barrister, social entrepreneur, and politician. She has previously run for the Senate and contested in the Kogi State gubernatorial election. She is also the founder of the Builders Hub Impact Investment Program (BHIIP).
Watch the video below:
“I am not afraid of you.” Kogi central Seantor, Natasha Akpoti dares Senate President Godswill Akpabio after ordering her out of the Senate Chamber pic.twitter.com/gfCH0SyYHZ
— Africa Independent Television (@AIT_Online) February 20, 2025
| Posted: at | |
TRENDING GISTS 
Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass After Historic Election As Pope
He Laughed At Me When I Had Issues With The Authorities -Bobrisky React To VeryDarkMan’s Arrest
PHOTOS: Troops Arrest Notorious Gunrunners, Recover Arms In Kaduna
PHOTOS: Young Woman Brutally Murdered By Suspected Ritualists, Priv@te Part Removed In Ogun
Woman Slams Her Husband For Allegedly Having Unprotected S3x With Random Girls After Publicly Apologizing To Her