Esther Salifu
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party, sparked a controversy in the Senate on Thursday when she refused to move to her newly assigned seat. The seat reassignment was a result of opposition members switching to the majority wing, prompting a reshuffle
Akpoti-Uduaghan cited Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects members’ privileges, as her reason for resisting the relocation. The dispute escalated into a heated exchange, with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, ruling in favor of the seat reassignment.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Akpoti-Uduaghan was denied recognition to speak for not addressing the chamber from her newly assigned seat. She protested loudly, directly confronting the Senate President and accusing him of deliberately silencing her voice. The incident has highlighted tensions within the Senate and raised questions about the application of its standing rules.
Senator Adaramodu, the Senate spokesman, has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s refusal to move to her reassigned seat.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu emphasized that the National Assembly is a place for serious business, not entertainment. “What we are saying is that the National Assembly is not for content creation in entertainment. National Assembly is for serious business,” he stated.
Addressing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of being sidelined, Adaramodu pointed out that she had been appointed chairperson of three committees, including Foreign Affairs and NGOs. “If she is talking like that being bullied or sidelined, as a first-timer, she even had three committees that she was appointed as chairman. You are entitled to only one committee to be the chairman, and she is in charge of Foreign Affairs, NGOs now,” he explained.
