Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was ordered to be removed from the National Assembly’s Red Chamber during a plenary session on February 20, 2025. The incident began when Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno raised a point of order regarding a new seating arrangement necessitated by recent defections of some senators from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Monguno emphasized that the changes were essential for maintaining order in the chamber and that senators were required to adhere to their assigned seats.
When Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed Senator Natasha to comply with the new seating arrangement, she refused to move from her original seat. This defiance led to a heated exchange, with Natasha accusing Akpabio of silencing her and denying her the opportunity to participate in discussions. She asserted her right to speak from her original position, stating, “I am not afraid of you,” in response to the Senate leadership’s actions.
As tensions escalated, Akpabio ruled that Natasha could not be recognized while speaking from an unauthorized seat and subsequently ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove her from the chamber. However, the Sergeant-at-Arms did not immediately act on this directive, and the situation remained unresolved for the time being. This clash is part of a broader pattern of ongoing tensions between Senator Natasha and Senate President Akpabio, with previous accusations of discrimination and obstruction of her legislative efforts.
https://youtu.be/0iGRzxNurY4
