Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of attempting to silence her by reassigning her seat to an obscure location in the Senate chamber.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Human Rights Radio’s Berekete TV, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the move as an effort to suppress her voice in parliamentary discussions. She expressed concerns about continuous harassment from the Senate leadership, stating that she has remained silent for a long time to avoid misinterpretation or legal battles.
“The fact is that I am facing a lot of harassment. Many of my privileges have been denied. I have been excluded from several international activities, including a United Nations event I was nominated for, simply because they do not want to promote me internationally,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further claimed that she has been funding her own trips to international events that she deems important for her constituents and Nigerian women. According to her, the sudden reassignment of her seat was another deliberate attempt to reduce her visibility and limit her contributions to debates.
“The seat I was assigned to is now in a far corner, where cameras do not capture. Sitting arrangements in the Senate are critical, as they determine visibility and chances of being called upon to speak,” she added.
Her decision to speak out has sparked a broader conversation about the challenges faced by women in politics and the need for greater support and protection.
The incident escalated during a heated Senate session on Thursday when Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her nameplate was missing from her usual seat. Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) attempted to justify the reassignment, but the confrontation intensified.
During the exchange, Akpabio reportedly ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Akpoti-Uduaghan from the chamber, warning that she could face suspension if she refused to comply.
“Can the Sergeant-at-Arms please take her out of the Senate?” Akpabio ordered as her microphone was switched off.
Some senators attempted to de-escalate the situation, with Kogi State senators, led by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), pleading for calm. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) and others intervened to prevent further escalation.
Reacting to the commotion, Akpabio compared the situation to the South African Parliament, where opposition leader Julius Malema is often ordered to sit down. He recalled that his own seat was reassigned in the 8th Senate, but he handled it without public protest.
“In the 8th Senate, my seat was changed without prior notice. I voiced my displeasure, but the matter was resolved internally,” Akpabio said, sarcastically apologizing “on behalf of the contractor” for the microphone issues that allowed Akpoti-Uduaghan to voice her grievances.
The incident has drawn mixed reactions, with some lawmakers calling for internal resolution while others insist that the matter raises broader concerns about fair treatment in the Senate.
