ABUJA — The National Assembly was the scene of another explosive confrontation on Wednesday afternoon as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) staged a dramatic walkout from a budget defence session, accusing the committee leadership of “gross disrespect.”
The incident, which brought a sensitive legislative hearing to a standstill, erupted when the Committee Chairman, Senator Peter Ndubueze (Imo North), attempted to use his gavel to silence Akpoti-Uduaghan during a line of questioning directed at a visiting Minister. The Kogi Senator, known for her fierce independence, did not take the interruption lightly, sparking a verbal firestorm that has since gone viral.
‘You Can’t Disrespect Me in the Minister’s Presence’
The friction began when Senator Ndubueze repeatedly struck his gavel to steer the proceedings away from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s probing inquiry. Rising with visible indignation, the Senator gathered her documents and delivered a stinging parting shot.
“Don’t hit the gavel! You cannot speak to me in that manner, and you certainly cannot disrespect me in the Minister’s presence,” Akpoti-Uduaghan declared before storming out of the committee room. The “walkout” left a stunned silence in the chambers, highlighting the deteriorating relationship between the Senate leadership and its more vocal members.
A Day of Legislative ‘Ego Trips’
The clash was just one of several high-profile “ego battles” that defined Wednesday’s legislative business:
- The ‘Distinguished’ Row: Earlier in the day, Works Minister David Umahi fired back at Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), asserting, “You cannot speak to me in that manner, I am a distinguished Nigerian,” during a heated debate over the ₦15 trillion coastal highway.
- The ‘10 Times’ Jab: Similarly, Senators Onyekachi Nwebonyi and Rufai Hanga nearly came to blows, with Hanga taunting his colleague, “My votes are 10 times yours,” during a separate budget hearing.
Defiance Amidst Legal Pressure
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s walkout is particularly noteworthy following the recent Court of Appeal ruling that affirmed the Senate’s power to suspend her over alleged misconduct. Her refusal to back down in the committee room suggests that the legal “clampdown” on dissent is failing to muzzle the opposition.
This internal friction is playing out as Mr Peter Obi continues to lead protests at the National Assembly gates, demanding that lawmakers focus on electoral integrity rather than “gavels and status.” Protesters have questioned why “Distinguished Nigerians” are fighting over respect while petrol nears ₦1,000 per litre and the national debt has hit ₦152 trillion.
What Next for the Senate?
As of Wednesday night, the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee has not indicated if it will investigate the “unparliamentary” conduct witnessed across multiple committee rooms.
However, with Abia North women reportedly taking to the streets in sackcloths to ‘curse’ Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and the U.S. Judge issuing a final ultimatum for the release of President Tinubu’s criminal records, the “Distinguished Nigerians” in Abuja are facing a crisis of confidence that a simple strike of the gavel may no longer be able to contain.
