By Ghazali Ibrahim
A tense confrontation ensued in the Senate on Wednesday when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) was involved in a heated exchange with the Senate leadership over a change in her seating arrangement.
The dispute began after the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, presided over a session and the Kogi lawmaker’s seat was unexpectedly relocated.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to comply with the change, prompting the Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Ali Monguno, to bring the matter to the attention of the Senate President, calling her seating position improper.
As Monguno addressed the issue, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan interjected, demanding an explanation for the seat change.
“Why was my seat moved without my consent?” she asked, raising her voice in protest.
Despite the Senate President ruling in favor of the seating adjustment, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remained defiant.
When she attempted to speak, she was denied recognition due to not being seated in her newly assigned position.
This further escalated the tension, with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan defiantly protesting, “I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege.”
The Kogi lawmaker also accused the Senate President of sidelining her, claiming that since their previous confrontation, she had been denied several opportunities to present bills for a second reading.
The situation grew even more dramatic when Senate President Akpabio ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from the chamber.
However, after interventions from various lawmakers, the situation calmed down, though the senator refused to move from her seat.
