I Am Facing Intimidation, Harassment in the Senate – Natasha
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of attempting to silence her by reassigning her seat to an obscure position in the Red Chamber.
She described the move as an effort to suppress her voice and limit her participation in parliamentary discussions.
Speaking in a telephone interview on Human Rights Radio’s Berekete TV, Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that she has been facing continuous intimidation and harassment since last year.
She alleged that several of her privileges have been stripped away, including being excluded from international events she was initially nominated for, forcing her to self-fund her trips.
“The fact is that I am facing a lot of harassment. I have been going through a lot, and I have remained quiet because I didn’t want to be misinterpreted. I didn’t want any lawsuits against me. I just wanted to be given a chance to work. A lot of my privileges have been denied,” she stated.
She further revealed that her seating position in the Senate chamber was changed without prior notice, pushing her to a corner where she would not be visible on camera, effectively diminishing her chances of being called upon to contribute to debates.
Her frustration came to a head during a heated session on Thursday when she discovered her nameplate missing from her usual seat. The situation escalated into a confrontation, prompting Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) to raise a point of order justifying the seat reassignment.
Senate President Akpabio, in response, ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Akpoti-Uduaghan from the chamber, warning that she could face suspension if she refused to comply.
“Can the Sergeant-at-Arms please take her out of the Senate?” Akpabio reportedly ordered as her microphone was switched off.
The confrontation has sparked a broader discussion about the challenges women face in politics, particularly regarding representation and harassment. While some senators intervened to calm the situation, Akpabio defended the seat reassignment by comparing it to past instances, including his own experience in the 8th Senate.
“In the 8th Senate, my seat was changed without prior notice. I voiced my displeasure, but the matter was resolved internally,” he said.
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