Natasha cries out over being left out of committee activities

Tension briefly flared at the National Assembly after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, voiced concerns that her legislative prerogatives are being restricted in the 10th Senate.

The senator’s protest reportedly followed her alleged omission from the attendance register of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission — a development she views as a serious procedural and institutional issue.

Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan reportedly arrived at the committee meeting prepared to take part, only to find her name missing from the official attendance list.

On noticing the omission, she sought out the committee clerk to establish why she had been excluded.

She was told that the clerk was in the office of the committee chairman, Titus Tartenger Zam, and went there to request clarification. During the exchange, the senator alleged that the chairman said his actions were taken on instructions from higher authorities; no details were given.

Expressing deep concern, Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan described the incident as part of a recurring pattern of marginalisation, stressing that all senators are constitutionally equal in status, authority and mandate. She questioned the procedural and constitutional justification for excluding her from a committee whose work directly affects her region in the North‑Central geopolitical zone.

The lawmaker further alleged that tensions escalated when aides attached to the committee chairman confronted her media team. She claimed that about six aides, including the chairman’s secretary, seized her cinematographer’s phone and engaged in verbal hostility — behaviour she described as unacceptable.

Reaffirming her commitment to fairness and institutional integrity, Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan said her protest is rooted in respect for the electoral mandate given to her by the people of Kogi Central. She vowed to continue to press for equitable treatment whenever legislative rights are undermined.

The incident has prompted discussion within political and parliamentary circles, with observers calling for strict adherence to legislative procedure, transparency in committee administration and the preservation of equality among members of the 10th National Assembly.