Tensions flared in the Senate on Thursday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio ordered security to remove Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following a heated dispute over her seat reassignment.
The session turned chaotic after Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), refused to sit in a newly assigned position, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which safeguards lawmakers’ privileges.
Upon entering the chamber, the Kogi senator discovered her nameplate missing from her usual seat, prompting her to demand an explanation. As plenary commenced, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) raised a point of order, alerting Akpabio to what he termed her “improper sitting position.”
Interrupting Monguno, Akpoti-Uduaghan passionately challenged the change, exclaiming, “I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege.”
As the exchange escalated, Akpabio ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to eject her from the chamber, warning that continued disruption could lead to suspension. Security personnel moved to enforce the directive, but Akpoti-Uduaghan resisted, further protesting what she saw as unfair treatment.
Sensing the situation spiraling, several senators, including Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East) and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), intervened, urging calm.
In response to the disruption, Akpabio likened the episode to scenes in South Africa’s Parliament, where opposition leader Julius Malema frequently challenges authority. He recalled facing a similar seat reassignment during his tenure in the 8th Senate, but claimed he handled it with more “decorum.”
“In the 8th Senate, my seat was changed without notice. I voiced my displeasure, but the matter was resolved internally,” Akpabio said, suggesting a return to an older microphone system to prevent senators from speaking out of turn.
Following a return to order, Senator Jibrin apologized on behalf of his Kogi colleague, while Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) downplayed the controversy, insisting that seat reallocations were routine.
“When she came in, we extended an arm of friendship to her; we love her too much. I don’t know why she turned the place upside down,” Karimi remarked, urging Akpoti-Uduaghan to apologize instead.
Akpabio eventually stepped in to defuse tensions, appealing for restraint. “Senator Karimi, I can see that you are very hurt. I just want to appeal to you to temper justice with mercy,” he said.
Clarifying the Senate’s position, Akpabio emphasized that seat allocations are at the discretion of the Senate President, and all senators are expected to speak from their assigned positions.
“I want the public to understand that our proceedings are governed by rules and the Constitution,” he concluded.
