● Abubakar Ojima-Ojo
Abuja – In a dramatic turn of events on Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove Senator Natasha Akpoti of Kogi Central from the legislative chamber. The incident, widely perceived as an attempt to silence Akpoti, has reignited concerns over gender discrimination and male dominance in Nigeria’s political space.
“Can the sergeant-at-arm please take her out of the Senate?” Akpabio directed after Akpoti refused to comply with a seating arrangement dictated by the Senate leadership. The directive came as she attempted to raise a motion under Order 10 of the Senate Rules, objecting to a seat reassignment following political defections.
Akpoti, however, stood her ground. “I will not move an inch away from my seat,” she declared defiantly. She accused the Senate president of a consistent pattern of silencing her and suppressing her right to represent her constituents, a claim that has drawn attention to the broader issue of gender-based marginalization in Nigeria’s legislature.
Observers within and outside the Senate chambers noted that the altercation was not an isolated event. A senior legislative aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the situation as “a clear attempt to intimidate and control a female senator who has consistently stood up for her people.” He added, “This is about power dynamics and who gets to have a voice in the Senate.”
A video of the confrontation, recorded by AIT, showed at least eight individuals rising to pacify Akpoti as she passionately defended her right to be heard. Her colleagues, while attempting to calm the situation, could not prevent the senator from voicing what she described as a pattern of targeted suppression by the Senate president.
“You have deliberately silenced me and the voice of Kogi Central on this floor. You have denied me the right to contribute to motions,” Akpoti charged, further asserting that Akpabio had deliberately stalled the progress of her legislative initiatives. She vowed not to succumb to intimidation, regardless of the consequences.
A legislative analyst, speaking to journalists, described the scene as “a disturbing reflection of how male chauvinism continues to shape the political landscape.” He pointed out that “women in politics face double the scrutiny and suppression, especially when they challenge authority.”
Akpoti further alleged that she had endured indignities from Akpabio that she could not openly discuss. “I have taken a whole lot from you. Some I don’t want to speak about publicly. But I will let Nigerians know how you have discriminated against me, maligned me, and dehumanized me,” she stated.
Her refusal to vacate the seat drew more attention to the tension between both lawmakers. “The worst you will do, Mr Senate President, is to suspend me from sitting. But even if I am suspended, I will continue to contribute to my people and Nigerians at large,” Akpoti insisted, reinforcing her stance.
This is not the first time the Kogi senator has faced verbal confrontations from Akpabio. In July 2023, during a plenary session, Akpabio dismissively told Akpoti, “We are not in a nightclub,” after she spoke without formal recognition. Following widespread criticism from civil society groups and the media, Akpabio later apologized. However, this latest altercation has fueled fresh debates about the treatment of women in Nigeria’s male-dominated political institutions. GMTNewsng
