Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Stages Protest Over Seat Change in Senate

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan [NASS TV/ YouTube]

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central protested a change to her seating assignment during Senate proceedings. Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was moved from the second-to-last row of the minority section to the last row.

Upon discovering her nameplate missing from her usual seat, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed her outrage, demanding an explanation for the change. Her refusal to comply with the new seating arrangement led Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno to invoke Section 6(1) of the Senate Standing Rules, which allows for seat reassignments when necessary due to changes in party affiliations among senators.

Monguno warned that non-compliance could result in penalties, including being barred from participating in Senate discussions. Senate President Godswill Akpabio supported this position and ruled against Akpoti-Uduaghan's protest. However, she remained defiant, raising her hand to speak but was denied recognition because she was not seated in her assigned position.

As tensions escalated, Akpabio ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove her from the chamber. Despite attempts by other senators to mediate and calm the situation, Akpoti-Uduaghan resisted removal and continued to voice her frustration over what she perceived as discrimination and an attempt to silence her.

In a moment of levity amidst the chaos, Akpabio likened the situation to South Africa’s Parliament, where opposition leader Julius Malema is often told to "sit down." He also reflected on his own past experiences with seat changes during his tenure in the Senate. Ultimately, after a prolonged dispute, order was restored, allowing Senate proceedings to continue.

Source: Premium Times

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