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Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Thursday grounded the plenary over her seat that was changed without her consent.
The Eastern Updates reports that 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-At-Arms 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.”
The chaos was controlled after the public address systems were shut and normalcy was restored afterwards.
“I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege,” she declared.
The standoff intensified when the Senate President directed the sergeant-at-arms to remove her.
However, interventions from fellow lawmakers restored calm, although Akpoti-Uduaghan remained firm in her refusal to move.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld Monguno’s order and denied Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan the floor when she attempted to speak from her old seat.
In protest, the Kogi lawmaker raised her voice, accusing the leadership of silencing her.
She further accused Akpabio of discrimination, defamation, and dehumanization, alleging that he had used language that demeaned women.
