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Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu has condemned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for her confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the reassignment of her seat.
The dispute occurred on Thursday when Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, refused to accept her new seat allocation, citing Order 10 of the Senate standing rules to defend her privileges. The reshuffling of seats followed the defection of some opposition members to the ruling party, necessitating changes in seating arrangements. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan resisted, accusing the Senate leadership of attempting to silence her.
“I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege,” she shouted at Akpabio during the heated exchange.
As tensions rose, Akpabio instructed the sergeant-at-arms to remove her from the chamber, but other lawmakers intervened to calm the situation.
Speaking on the incident during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Adaramodu dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of marginalization, emphasizing that the National Assembly is meant for legislative work, not theatrics.
“The National Assembly is not a platform for content creation or entertainment. It is for serious business,” he stated.
He also refuted claims that she was being sidelined, noting that despite being a first-time senator, she had been appointed chairperson of multiple committees—an uncommon privilege.
“If she talks about being bullied or sidelined, she should remember that as a first-timer, she chairs three committees, including Foreign Affairs and NGOs,” he added.
Adaramodu further noted that the Senate would not revisit the altercation, as Senator Isah Jubril, also from Kogi, had already apologized on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behalf, and the apology had been accepted by the Senate.
