Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was on Monday involved in a fresh confrontation at the National Assembly, escalating tensions within the Senate.
The latest Senate clash reportedly occurred at the office of Titus Zam, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
Incident Follows NCDC Budget Defence Session
According to sources within the National Assembly, the altercation followed a budget defence session organised by the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission.
The meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m., had reportedly concluded before Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the venue. Upon discovering that the session had ended, the Kogi Central lawmaker was said to have proceeded to the committee chairman’s office, accompanied by her legislative aides, to seek clarification over the development.
Tension Escalates at Chairman’s Office
Eyewitness accounts indicate that tension heightened after the senator was allegedly denied entry into the chairman’s office. This reportedly triggered a heated exchange between members of staff attached to the office and individuals within the senator’s entourage.
During the commotion, one of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s aides was accused of physically confronting a staff member, prompting the intervention of National Assembly security personnel.
Security operatives eventually restored order, although the immediate cause of the confrontation remains unclear as of press time.
Series of Senate Disputes
Monday’s development adds to a string of recent disputes involving the Kogi Central senator during Senate proceedings.
Last week, Akpoti-Uduaghan was involved in a tense exchange with Patrick Ndubueze, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel Development, during an interactive session with the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu.
The disagreement arose after Ndubueze attempted to conclude the minister’s appearance, while Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted on continuing her remarks. She reportedly described the move as disrespectful before walking out of the session.
No Official Statement Yet
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from Akpoti-Uduaghan, Zam, or the Senate leadership regarding Monday’s incident.
The latest confrontation has further drawn attention to ongoing tensions within the National Assembly, particularly surrounding committee proceedings and budget defence sessions.
