In what seemed like a moment of unprovoked tension during a recent plenary session of the Nigerian Senate, a dispute between
Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, and Senator Natasha Akpoti–Uduaghan, has sparked widespread discussion.
However, an insider account, witnessed firsthand at the plenary, offers an entirely different perspective on what led to the clash. Contrary to what has been portrayed in the media, the situation was more about a breach of Senate rules than any personal altercation.
According to Senate rules, each senator is allocated a specific seat that must be respected during plenary sessions.
On the day in question, Natasha was seated in a seat that was no longer hers, following a recent rearrangement of seats.
While it had been her seat previously, the senator now assigned to that seat politely approached her, urging her to vacate and move to her new seat.
Senator Natasha, however, declined to comply, despite being informed of the seating change.
This, according to sources familiar with Senate procedures, was the start of the escalation.
The situation was brought to the attention of the Senate’s Chief Whip, who made several attempts to convince Natasha to follow the new seating arrangement.
At that point, Akpabio intervened and instructed Senator Natasha to move to her designated seat.
Yet, she remained uncooperative, insisting on speaking from her current location.
As the matter grew more tense, the Chief Whip raised a point of order, referencing Senate rules that prohibit any senator from speaking outside their designated seat.
The Senate President, after considering the point of order, upheld the Chief Whip’s stance, reinforcing the Senate’s regulations. He explained that Natasha could not speak from her current seat unless she moved to her allocated one.
It was at this juncture that Natasha’s outburst occurred, which many have viewed as an emotional reaction to what she perceived as an unnecessary challenge to her authority.
The video footage, which has circulated online, only shows a part of the exchange, leaving out the crucial moments leading up to the incident.
For those who witnessed the full sequence, the story is clear: the entire episode stemmed from a violation of Senate rules rather than a personal dispute between the senators.
The Chief Whip’s actions were aligned with his duty to enforce the Senate’s procedures, and the Senate President, Akpabio, was simply following the rules in directing Natasha to adhere to the seating arrangement.
In this light, the altercation seems less like a confrontation and more like a matter of protocol.
The part of the video that has been widely shared, though, gives the impression of a different dynamic.
Without the complete context, many have jumped to conclusions, portraying the event as a clash of personalities.
However, those present at the plenary agree that the incident was a case of a simple rule enforcement that escalated due to a lack of cooperation from one of the parties involved.
As it stands, what could have been a simple issue of seat rearrangement has now become a subject of political discourse, with many questioning the motives behind the public display of defiance.
Some see it as a sign of growing tension in the Senate, while others believe it’s a case of misunderstanding amplified by selective video coverage.
Regardless of the interpretation, the underlying issue remains clear: the altercation was about the observance of Senate rules, and while emotions may have flared, it was not a clash driven by personal animosity between Akpabio and Natasha.
The full video, if made public, would likely provide a more comprehensive understanding of the entire episode and reveal the
true nature of the incident.
News1 week ago
Latest3 days ago
Business1 week ago
Business3 days ago
Featured3 days ago
Latest6 days ago
Business1 week ago
Business6 days ago