Politics

Seating Arragement Dispute: ‘Senate Not For Content Creation’, Adaramodu Slams Senator Natasha

ByHafsoh Isiaq

PublishedFebruary 21, 2025

Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu has criticised Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following a heated dispute over her seating arrangement in the chamber.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator, refused to use her newly assigned seat on Thursday, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects members’ privileges.

The reassignment was prompted by a reshuffle following opposition members’ defection to the majority wing.

Defying the change, Akpoti-Uduaghan openly challenged the leadership, accusing them of attempting to suppress her voice.

“I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege,” she declared during the session.

During the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on security to remove her from the chamber, but intervention from fellow lawmakers prevented further escalation.

Reacting to the incident in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Adaramodu said the Senate was not a platform for entertainment.

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“What we are saying is that the National Assembly is not for content creation in entertainment. National Assembly is for serious business,” he said.

Addressing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim of being sidelined, Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South, said she had already been appointed chairperson of three committees, including Foreign Affairs and NGOs.

“If she is talking like that being bullied or sidelined, as a first-timer, she even had three committees that she was appointed as chairman.

“You are entitled to only committee to be the chairman and she is in charge of Foreign Affairs, NGOs now,” the Senate spokesman said.

When asked about possible disciplinary action, he noted that her Kogi colleague, Senator Isah Jubril, had apologised on her behalf.

“The Senate as a whole has already accepted that tendered apology, so we are not going to revisit that,” Adaramodu stated.

Hafsoh Isiaq

Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.