A heated confrontation erupted in the Nigerian Senate on Thursday, February 20, when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central clashed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over an unauthorized change to her seating position. The dispute led to a dramatic session, exposing tensions within the legislative chamber.
The incident unfolded during a plenary session presided over by Akpabio, when Chief Whip Senator Mohammed Ali Monguno raised a point of order regarding Senator Natasha’s seating arrangement. As Monguno addressed the chamber, Natasha interrupted, demanding an explanation for why her seat had been moved without her consent.
“Why was my seat moved without my consent?” she questioned forcefully, refusing to be silenced. Her vocal resistance led to a heated exchange, which quickly escalated.
In response to the altercation, Senate President Akpabio ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Senator Natasha from the plenary. However, she stood her ground, declaring defiantly, “I am not afraid of you, and I will not be silenced.”
Senator Natasha further accused Akpabio of deliberately sidelining her, stating that she had been repeatedly denied opportunities to present bills for a second reading following a previous confrontation. Her protest highlighted broader concerns about internal legislative dynamics under Akpabio’s leadership.
The standoff created significant disorder, making it difficult to restore calm. Eventually, the public address systems were shut down to de-escalate the situation, allowing proceedings to resume.
This incident reflects ongoing tensions within the Nigerian Senate, raising questions about leadership style, internal fairness, and procedural transparency under Akpabio’s administration.
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