Senate President Akpabio Recalls Displeasure Over Seat Change Amid Heated Plenary Session
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, recounted how he once expressed displeasure when his seat was changed without prior notice during the 8th Senate.
Akpabio made this remark during plenary while addressing a heated argument between himself and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, over a change in her seating arrangement.
Naija News earlier reported that Akpoti-Uduaghan disrupted the plenary session after her seat was moved without authorization. The session, presided over by Akpabio, was in progress when the Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Ali Monguno, raised a point of order regarding what he termed the “improper seating position” of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Before Monguno could complete his statement, Akpoti-Uduaghan erupted in a loud protest, prompting the Sergeant-at-Arms to step in and attempt to escort her out of the chamber.
Addressing the disruption after the matter was resolved, Akpabio likened the situation to South Africa’s parliament, where opposition leader Julius Malema often faces calls to “sit down.”
“In the 8th Senate, my seat was changed without prior notice. I voiced my displeasure, but the matter was resolved internally,” Akpabio said.
He further suggested reverting to the old microphone system to prevent senators from speaking out of turn, sarcastically apologizing “on behalf of the contractor” over the incident.
Following the resolution of the issue, Senator Jibrin cited Order 42 (Matter of Personal Explanation) and apologized on behalf of his Kogi colleague.
Meanwhile, Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) defended the seat reallocation process, describing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reaction as unnecessary.
“When she came in, we extended an arm of friendship to her; we love her too much. I don’t know why she turned the place upside down,” Karimi remarked, urging her to apologize.
In the end, Akpabio intervened, offering Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan a soft landing, bringing the matter to a close.