Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu has criticized Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her heated confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio regarding the reassignment of her seat in the chamber.
The dispute erupted on Thursday after Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, resisted her seat reassignment, citing Order 10 of the Senate standing rules.
The reshuffling of seats followed the defection of some opposition senators to the ruling party, necessitating a reorganization of seating arrangements.
In a tense exchange, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate leadership of suppressing her voice, defiantly stating, “I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege.”
As tensions escalated, Akpabio ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove her from the chamber. However, other lawmakers intervened to prevent the situation from worsening.
Reacting to the incident during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Adaramodu dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of marginalization and criticized what he described as unnecessary drama.
“The National Assembly is not a place for content creation or entertainment. It is a place for serious legislative business,” he stated.
He further pointed out that, despite being a first-time senator, Akpoti-Uduaghan has been given significant responsibilities, including chairing three committees.
“If she says she’s being sidelined, then how does she explain being appointed as the chairperson of three committees, including the Foreign Affairs and NGOs committees?” he questioned.
Adaramodu also confirmed that the Senate would not revisit the altercation, as Senator Isah Jubril, also from Kogi, had already apologized on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behalf.
“The Senate has accepted the apology, so there is no need to reopen the matter,” he concluded.