Nigerians have expressed outrage over Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s decision to order Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan out of the Senate chamber during a heated plenary session.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, February 20, was captured in a viral video showing Akpabio cutting off Akpoti-Uduaghan’s microphone and instructing security personnel to remove her after she protested the reassignment of her seat without prior notice.
The seat reshuffling was triggered by the defection of several minority party senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As a result, seating arrangements were adjusted, but Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator representing Kogi Central, claimed she had not been informed of the change.
Tensions escalated when she raised her hand to speak but was denied recognition for not addressing the chamber from her newly assigned seat. When she continued to press for an explanation, Akpabio ordered her microphone turned off and called on the sergeant-at-arms to remove her. However, following interventions from fellow lawmakers, the situation was de-escalated, and Akpoti-Uduaghan stood her ground.
Public Outcry Over Akpabio’s Actions
The incident sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with many Nigerians accusing Akpabio of suppressing opposition voices.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong criticized Akpabio’s decision, arguing that instead of reallocating seats, he should have declared the defectors’ positions vacant. He accused the Senate President of disregarding constitutional provisions and enabling political impunity.
“Akpabio conveniently cited the Senate Rules but ignored Section 68(2) of the Constitution, which mandates him to declare defectors’ seats vacant. By offering new seats to senators who have lost their membership, he is engaging in constitutional vandalism,” Effiong said.
Others took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their anger.
@webtvgirl wrote: “Dear Senate President Akpabio, you shall not silence Natasha Akpoti. She is a democratically elected senator, just like you. Your repeated attempts to suppress her voice will not stand.”
@therealsimcard1 added: “Akpabio must be stopped. That man is not fit to be Senate President. Nigerians and Kogites must protect Senator Natasha at all costs.”
Another user, @maybeks, praised Akpoti-Uduaghan for prioritizing public service, saying: “She is one of the few senators dedicated to the people. Any action against Natasha is an action against us all.”
The incident has fueled debates about political power dynamics in the Senate and the treatment of opposition lawmakers, raising concerns about democratic fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s legislative process.
