On Thursday, February 20, 2025, a heated confrontation erupted in the Nigerian Senate between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
The dispute began when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her seat had been relocated without her consent. Outraged, she demanded an explanation and refused to move, leading to a tense exchange.
Senate President Akpabio ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove her from the chamber, but she resisted, declaring, “I am not afraid of you.” The situation escalated until fellow senators intervened to restore order.
In response to the incident, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate in the last Kogi State election, condemned Akpabio’s actions, describing them as “legislative autocracy and rascality.” Ajaka called for Akpabio’s removal, citing concerns over the Senate’s independence and credibility under his leadership.
The altercation has sparked widespread debate about parliamentary decorum and the treatment of lawmakers within the Senate.
