The Senate chamber was thrown into chaos as a heated exchange erupted between Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)) and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio over the change of her seat without her consent.
The tension began when Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Tahir Monguno, raised a point of order, alerting Akpabio to what he described as Natasha’s “improper seating position.”
However, before Monguno could even conclude his statement, Natasha forcefully challenged the situation, demanding to know why her seat had been changed without her consent.
As voices rose and tempers flared, Akpabio attempted to restore order, but Natasha stood her ground, refusing to back down.
Frustrated by her defiance, Akpabio directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort her out of the chamber.
Her microphone was immediately switched off as security personnel moved to remove her, but Natasha resisted, raising her voice even louder.
Sensing the escalating situation, some senators approached her in an attempt to calm her down, but she remained steadfast, refusing to be silenced.
In response to the uproar, Akpabio took a swipe at the ongoing disruptions, referencing South Africa’s Parliament, where opposition leader Julius Malema was interrupted with calls to “sit down.”
He reminisced about a similar experience during his time in the 8th Senate, acknowledging that he, too, had protested a seat change but managed to resolve the issue without it becoming a public spectacle.
As the plenary session progressed, other senators from Kogi State weighed in on the controversy. Senator Isah Jibrin openly criticized Natasha’s reaction and went a step further by offering an apology on her behalf.
Senator Karimi Sunday also spoke on the matter, defending the process of seat reallocation and dismissing Natasha’s outburst as unnecessary.
