The Nigerian Senate witnessed an unusual drama last week when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the sudden reassignment of her seat. What seemed like a simple procedural issue quickly escalated into a heated exchange that exposed deeper issues about power, gender, and leadership in the upper legislative chamber.
But beyond the incident itself lies a stunning irony: Akpabio, who reacted with force against Akpoti-Uduaghan, was once in her exact position. During the 8th Senate under Senate President Bukola Saraki, Akpabio himself resisted a seat reassignment and protested vehemently. Now, with power in his hands, he appears to have forgotten the lesson he once tried to teach.
A Seat, A Statement of Power
At first glance, some may dismiss the controversy as insignificant. After all, does it really matter where a senator sits? But in the structured world of legislative politics, seating arrangements are more than just logistics—they are statements of influence, hierarchy, and political alignment. A sudden change in a senator’s seat, especially without prior consultation, can be seen as a deliberate attempt to undermine their status or isolate them from key allies.
For Akpoti-Uduaghan, the decision to reassign her seat without her consent was not just a personal affront but an institutional overreach. Her resistance was a demand for respect and due process. However, Akpabio’s response to order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove her from the chamber was excessive, raising questions about his leadership style and his tolerance for dissent.
Akpabio’s Forgotten Past Under Saraki
In a moment of political déjà vu, Akpabio’s actions last week mirror his own experience in the 8th Senate when Bukola Saraki was Senate President. After defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akpabio’s seat was reassigned. He strongly opposed the move, argued that it was politically motivated and intended to humiliate him. At the time, Akpabio defended his right to contest the decision.
Yet, now that he hold the Senate gavel, he has chosen a different approach. Instead of handling Akpoti-Uduaghan’s protest with the understanding and patience he once demanded for himself, he resorted to authoritarian measures. The question then arised: does Akpabio believe in fairness only when he is the victim?
The Gender Factor: Would Akpabio Have Reacted the Same Way to a Male Senator?
Another critical aspect of this controversy is the role of gender in Nigerian politics. Female politicians often face additional scrutiny, and when they assert themselves, they are labeled as “troublesome” rather than “principled.” Would Akpabio have ordered the forceful removal of a male senator if they had resisted a similar seat reassignment?
Akpoti-Uduaghan has already encountered significant opposition in her political journey, from contesting elections in Kogi State to now holding her ground in the Senate. Her defiance in this case signals a shift an increasing unwillingness of female legislators to be treated as second-class members in the National Assembly.
Leadership or Bullying?
Akpabio’s response to this incident raised concerns about his leadership approach. A Senate President should be a consensus builder, not a ruler who enforces decisions through intimidation. His reaction to Akpoti-Uduaghan suggests that he sees disagreement as disobedience, a mindset more suited to a dictatorship than a democratic institution.
The Senate should not be run like a personal empire where dissenting voices are silenced. Leadership is about managing differences with wisdom, not exercising power through force.
A Lesson in Political Memory
This episode is a reminder of how quickly politicians forget their past grievances when they assume power. Akpabio’s 2018 protest under Saraki should have made him more understanding of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s concerns. Instead, he has demonstrated that once in control, it is easier to dismiss the same struggles one once faced.
For Akpoti-Uduaghan, this incident may have been frustrating, but it has solidified her image as a fearless lawmaker unwilling to be intimidated. For Akpabio, however, it is a stain on his leadership—a display of political hypocrisy that will not be easily forgotten.
The real test of leadership is not in wielding power but in ensuring fairness, even to those who challenge authority. If Akpabio does not learn this lesson now, he may one day find himself in the same position he once occupied under Saraki—only this time, there may be no sympathy left for him.
*Babalola, a Public Affairs analyst, writes from Abuja
