Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused the Senate leadership of denying her privileges as a lawmaker. She made the allegations during an interview on Brekete Family, a human rights radio and television programme in Abuja, on Friday.
The controversy stems from a heated exchange during Thursday’s plenary session, where Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to occupy a seat reassigned to her. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker challenged the decision, leading to a confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that the incident was part of a broader pattern of marginalisation she has faced since her first clash with the Senate President. She claimed that her participation in international events has been restricted and that she has been excluded from key opportunities.
“My attention was drawn that you were actually speaking about the issue on your programme today, so thank you so much for your concern,” she said during the interview.
She added, “I have been going through a lot, and I have remained quiet because I didn’t want to be interpreted wrongly. I didn’t want any lawsuit against me. I just wanted to be given the chance to work. A lot of my privileges have been denied.”
The senator specifically mentioned being removed from international activities, including a United Nations event she was nominated to attend. “I have been pulled out of many international activities that I have been part of since that whole nightclub incident that happened last year. In fact, there was even a United Nations event that I was supposed to attend, which I was nominated for, but my name was struck out that they would not promote me in any event internationally,” she stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further disclosed that she has had to self-sponsor her participation in international events over the past year. “So every event that I have been going to since last year has been self-sponsored. I have been going through a lot,” she said.
Reflecting on the recent plenary session, she defended her actions, stating that she invoked parliamentary rules to address the issue. “Yesterday, I didn’t speak out of order. He was reading my suspension, and I had to invoke Order 10, which is an order of privilege,” she explained.
The senator’s allegations have sparked discussions about fairness and equity within the Senate, particularly regarding the treatment of lawmakers. Her claims highlight ongoing tensions in the upper chamber and raise questions about the allocation of privileges and opportunities among senators.
