Tensions flared in the Senate on Thursday as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with the leadership over a seating arrangement dispute.
The controversy erupted when her seat was reassigned due to a reshuffle, prompted by opposition members defecting to the majority wing.
This development seemingly caught Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan off guard, sparking a heated exchange.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan declined to move to her newly assigned seat, sparking a heated debate.
The Chief Whip, Sen. Tahir Monguno, defended the seating arrangement change by referencing Senate rules, which grant the Senate President the authority to make seat adjustments.
He also cautioned that failure to comply would result in penalties, including being barred from participating in Senate debates.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio backed Monguno’s directive and refused to recognize Sen. Uduaghan when she tried to speak from her original seat, escalating the tension in the Senate chamber.
In a bold show of defiance, the Kogi senator raised her voice, accusing the leadership of silencing her.
She said: “I do not care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege.”
The situation took a dramatic turn when the Senate President ordered the sergeant-at-arms to escort Sen. Uduaghan out of the chamber.
However, other senators intervened, successfully diffusing the tense situation, although Sen. Uduaghan stood firm, refusing to vacate her original seat.
This is not the first time she has had a brush with the Senate President.
Persecondnews recalls that on Thursday, July 18, 2024, Akpabio told Sen. Uduaghan that the Senate chamber was not a nightclub, and therefore, she must be recognized before speaking during plenary.
Akpabio said: “Distinguished Sen. Natasha, in the chamber, you have to be recognised before you speak. We are not in a night club.”
The statement raised a lot of dust, with Akpabio later making a clarification, saying that people had misunderstood what he said.
He said: “We are still learning, even those of us who have been in the Senate for 16 years, we are still learning.
“But in the cause of speaking with one of my distinguished sisters on not speaking when not recognised, I made reference to the fact that we are not in a night club where people have to shout above the noise of the music.
“The social media went agog, my wife called me that they published her number and she received around 2,000 to 3,000 calls per day.
“I am happy with the interest generated by Nigerians with what goes on in this chamber because we are here for their interest.
“The communication was totally misunderstood, instead of making meaning with what we said, they went into private abuse; I do not want to say what they did to me.
“I will not intentionally denigrate any woman. I have a wife and four daughters and I always pray that God will lift a girl to the highest zenith in Nigeria, politically and in business.
“So Sen. Natasha I want to apologise to you if you felt offended. There is nothing I will say that would not be misrepresented; I felt I should tender a public apology to you.”
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