The former Deputy Governor of Edo State Philip Shaibu, has weighed in on the ongoing seat arrangement controversy between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday, Shaibu emphasized that the issue should not be reduced to a gender issue, as the seating and office allocations of federal lawmakers are privileges, not rights.
Shaibu, who has experience as both a former House of Representatives member and a two-term Edo State House of Assembly lawmaker, explained that seats and offices within the National Assembly are typically assigned based on lobbying and rules set by the legislature. According to him, while seating arrangements are part of the process, federal lawmakers must lobby for their desired positions.
“I was able to lobby to have my office close to where I wanted it, I was able to hurriedly lobby for where I wanted to sit,” Shaibu recalled from his time in the National Assembly, suggesting that new lawmakers may not always be aware of this practice.
Shaibu firmly rejected the idea that the dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio should be framed as a gender-based issue. According to him, the rules and regulations governing the Senate apply equally to all lawmakers, irrespective of gender. He further emphasized that the allocation of seats and offices should be based on the established rules of the House and not influenced by whether the lawmaker is a man or a woman.
“The rules are meant for the House. It doesn’t mean whether you are a man or a woman,” Shaibu said, adding that there may have been some miscommunication that contributed to the current disagreement.
The Dispute and Legal Action
The controversy began on February 20, 2025, when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, rejected her assigned seat in the Senate. She openly challenged the order from Senate President Akpabio and accused him of harassment.
As a result of the altercation, Akpoti-Uduaghan has since filed a N100 billion defamation suit against Akpabio, claiming that the Senate President made defamatory comments about her. In turn, the Senate under Akpabio’s leadership has referred the matter to the Senate disciplinary committee for further review.
This incident follows a public apology from Akpabio to Akpoti-Uduaghan in July 2024, after his controversial nightclub comments about her were widely criticized.
Shaibu’s comments suggest that while the situation is indeed tense, it is crucial to recognize the rules and procedures governing the National Assembly and resolve any disputes accordingly.
