Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Thursday grounded the plenary over her seat that was changed without her consent.
The plenary which was being presided by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, was midway into proceedings when the Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Ali Monguno raised a point of order.
Monguno drew the attention of the Senate President to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s improper seating position of the lawmaker.
Monguno, had hardly concluded a point of order before Natasha engaged in a shouting melee before she was surrounded by the Sergeant-AtArms in a bid to excuse her from the plenary.
Amid the confusion, the Senate President’s attempt to calm nerves was bluffed as the female lawmaker insisted to know, “reasons why her seat was changed without her consent.”
Upholding this position, Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled in favor of the order. However, when Senator Natasha raised her hand to speak, she was denied recognition because she was not addressing the chamber from her newly assigned seat.
Refusing to back down, Senator Natasha raised her voice in protest, directly confronting the Senate President.
Furious Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan challenges the change of her seat.
“I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege,” the Kogi lawmaker said.
The standoff added an unexpected layer of drama and tension during the plenary. The Senate President even ordered the sergeant at arms to walk her out, but after the intervention from various lawmakers, calm was restored but she adamantly declined to move.
The chaos was controlled after the public address systems were shut and normalcy was restored afterwards.
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Idowu Odediran On February 20, 2025 at 11:25 pm
Weldon,editor S
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