T ensions flared in the Senate on Thursday as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) clashed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a controversial seat reassignment. In a dramatic confrontation, Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to vacate her usual position, declaring, “I don’t care if I’m silenced—I’m not afraid of you!” Her defiance momentarily disrupted proceedings, with Akpabio calling for her removal from the chamber.
The dispute erupted when Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived to find her seat reassigned as part of a broader reshuffling following recent defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Chief Whip Tahir Monguno cited Senate Standing Orders, affirming Akpabio’s authority to reassign seats and warning that failure to comply could bar her from participating in debates. However, the Kogi senator stood her ground, accusing the Senate leadership of attempting to stifle her voice.
“You have denied me my privilege!” she protested, as Akpabio ordered security to enforce the seat change. As the sergeant-at-arms moved in, a tense standoff ensued, with some senators intervening to de-escalate the situation. Among them, Kogi Senator Isah Jibrin sought to mediate, but Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to back down.
The incident marks yet another heated exchange between Akpabio and the outspoken senator. In 2024, he controversially told her the Senate was “not a nightclub,” a remark that sparked backlash and later led to an apology. The latest altercation has ignited debate across social media, with some praising Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resilience while others criticized her defiance of parliamentary rules.
Despite the drama, the Senate proceeded to pass the N54.99 trillion 2025 budget, but the confrontation underscored deepening divisions within Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber.
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