“Senate Showdown: Akpabio Faces Backlash for Publicly Humiliating Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan”
Following a heated altercation between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, a non-governmental organization, the Middle-Belt Vanguard, has voiced strong condemnation over what it describes as systemic intimidation and discrimination against women in leadership roles. The incident occurred on Thursday, centered around a dispute over seat allocation in the Red Chamber.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Godwin Meliga, the President of the Middle-Belt Vanguard, criticized Akpabio for publicly humiliating Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, highlighting a previous instance when the Senate President disparaged her for speaking without proper recognition. Meliga emphasized that such behavior was not an isolated occurrence.
“On February 20, 2025, Akpabio took it upon himself to reallocate Senate seats without consulting or notifying the senators affected, including Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan,” Meliga stated. While acknowledging that the Senate President has the authority to assign seats, he argued that basic fairness and transparency demand that senators be informed about such changes beforehand.
The statement further pointed out how Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was unfairly silenced when she tried to raise the issue, with her concerns dismissed on the grounds that she was not sitting in her designated seat. Meliga criticized this as an example of double standards, particularly when Akpabio himself had been allowed to raise similar issues during Bukola Saraki’s time as Senate President, even from an unassigned seat.
The Middle-Belt Vanguard called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other senators, and the Nigerian public to stand in solidarity with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and ensure she is treated with the respect and fairness she deserves as an elected official.
Meliga also reassured the senator, urging her to remain steadfast in her role, noting that her service to the people of Kogi Central should not be undermined. The organization vowed to continue advocating against discrimination of women in leadership and against any attempts to erode democratic principles within the country.
