Why Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's Suspension Matters: What's at Stake
After a furious argument with Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday about seating arrangements in the chamber, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has claimed that the Senate leadership intends to suspend her.
The accusation was made by Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during a phone interview on Friday with Abuja's Berekete Family, a human rights radio program.
The senator pledged to continue serving her constituents in spite of the purportedly planned suspension.
She declared that her dedication to public service will not be affected by any suspension.
"I am aware that they are currently preparing to suspend me. It's okay if I'm suspended. I will continue to work wherever I can despite it.
The accusation was made by Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during a phone interview on Friday with Abuja's Berekete Family, a human rights radio program.
The senator pledged to continue serving her constituents in spite of the purportedly planned suspension.
She declared that her dedication to public service will not be affected by any suspension.
"I am aware that they are currently preparing to suspend me. It's okay if I'm suspended. I will continue to work wherever I can despite it.
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"I am aware that they are currently preparing to suspend me. It's okay if I'm suspended. I will continue to work wherever I can despite it. I will continue to serve my people, and I have other projects planned. "I will continue to be a voice and to be loved by the people," she declared.
She had a verbal altercation with the Senate president in protest of her seat being switched in the chamber the day before the alleged planned suspension.
She had a verbal altercation with the Senate president in protest of her seat being switched in the chamber the day before the alleged planned suspension.
The dispute's history
The move of Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan's seat within the Senate chamber sparked the issue.
Without her permission, she was relocated from the second-to-last row of the minority area to the last row.
She protested by insisting on staying in her old seat, which was viewed as against Senate regulations.
Tahir Monguno, the Senate Chief Whip, used Section 6(1) of the Standing Rules, which gives the Senate president the power to redistribute seats when needed, in response to her unwillingness to follow the sitting arrangement.
Due to recent opposition senators defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Monguno defended the seat swap.
He cautioned that breaking the sitting arrangements could result in consequences, such as being disqualified from taking part in Senate debates.
She protested by insisting on staying in her old seat, which was viewed as against Senate regulations.
Tahir Monguno, the Senate Chief Whip, used Section 6(1) of the Standing Rules, which gives the Senate president the power to redistribute seats when needed, in response to her unwillingness to follow the sitting arrangement.
Due to recent opposition senators defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Monguno defended the seat swap.
He cautioned that breaking the sitting arrangements could result in consequences, such as being disqualified from taking part in Senate debates.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s response
Speaking about the incident, the Kogi senator clarified that she acted within the Senate’s rules.
Speaking about the incident, the Kogi senator clarified that she acted within the Senate’s rules.
She explained that she invoked Order 10, which allows a senator to refer a matter to the ethics and privileges committee instead of facing immediate suspension.
“Yesterday, I did not speak out of order. He was grieving my suspension, and I had to invoke order 10, which is an order of privilege, which meant instead of suspending me, if you find me faulty in any area, send me to face the ethics and privileges committee. That’s what I did.
“I had to invoke that order, which was a right of every senator who felt their rights were being infringed upon. That’s what I did. If I had not done that, I would have been suspended on the floor.
She stressed on the planned suspension but maintained that it would not prevent her duties if she is eventually suspended.
“So I had to say that to prevent the suspension at that point, but I’m aware that there are still plans underway to suspend me, and if I’m suspended, fine,” she added.
Allegations of harassment
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan also alleged that she has faced continuous harassment within the Senate and has been deliberately sidelined from key activities.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan also alleged that she has faced continuous harassment within the Senate and has been deliberately sidelined from key activities.
“I have faced a lot of harassment, I have been going through a lot, a lot. And I have remained quiet because I didn’t want to be interpreted wrongly, I didn’t want any lawsuits against me. I just wanted to be given a chance to work,” she said.
She claimed that many of her privileges had been revoked, including her participation in international events.
“A lot of my privileges have been denied. I have been pulled out from many international activities that I was part of. That is right after, you know, that whole nightclub incident that happened last year. Ever since then, I have been…. There was even a United Nations event I was supposed to attend, which I was invited and nominated for but my name was struck out that they will not promote me in any activity internationally,” Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan stated.
The senator went on to say that since last year, she has been paying for her own travels abroad since Senate leadership has consistently prevented her from going to any events that are sponsored by outside parties.
Since last year, I have supported myself at every event I have attended. I purchase my own tickets and pay for my own travel whenever I believe an international event will be significant to my constituents, Nigerian women, or Nigeria. I simply don't talk about it. Thus, I've been dealing with a lot," she remarked.
She asserted that the move was an intentional attempt to quiet and isolate her in relation to the seating dispute.
Since last year, I have supported myself at every event I have attended. I purchase my own tickets and pay for my own travel whenever I believe an international event will be significant to my constituents, Nigerian women, or Nigeria. I simply don't talk about it. Thus, I've been dealing with a lot," she remarked.
She asserted that the move was an intentional attempt to quiet and isolate her in relation to the seating dispute.
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