For the second time, senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Uduaghan, have clashed
in what turned out to be another shouting match between the two
The incident began over a disagreement with the new seating arrangement in the red chamber and almost boiled over when the senate President demanded the
Sergeant-at-Arms to escort Natasha out of the chamber, a directive that was not carried out.
The exchange between Senator Natasha Akpoti and senate President Godswill Akpabio, was the second time both persons will be having a go at each other
It began when the Senate’s Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, raised a motion that Senator Natasha Uduaghan had failed to move to her newly assigned seat, which he argued went against Senate regulations.
According to him, the seating re-arrangement was to reorganize the chamber following the defection of two opposition senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress
But the Kogi senator wouldn’t have it, insisting on staying on her original seat. Invoking Order 10 of the senate rules, she argued that her rights had been violated.
But she was ruled out of order by the presiding officer Godswill Akpabio who said she will not be recognized while speaking from an unassigned seat.
Expressing her frustration, Natasha accused the Senate leadership of silencing her and denying her the opportunity to contribute to legislative debates.
Other senators later stepped in to calm the tension, paving the way for plenary proceedings.
Much later, the two other senators from Kogi sate, Sunday Karimi and Isa Jubril sided with Akpabio, saying the Senate had acted within its authority and described the altercation as unnecessary. Both senators are from the ruling APC, while Natasha is of the PDP
Karimi and Jubril also apologized and appealed for the matter to be put to rest, urging the Senate President Akpabio not to take any further action
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
