Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has called for her Senate probe proceedings to be broadcast live, following an incident on February 20, when she disrupted plenary by rejecting her assigned seat, defying Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s order, and repeatedly raising a point of order, despite being overruled.
In a statement posted on her X (formerly Twitter) page on Thursday, the lawmaker expressed her readiness to face the disciplinary review, which the Senate had referred to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions. However, she insisted that the matter should not be handled behind closed doors, calling for transparency and accountability in the process.
“I have refrained from publicly speaking on matters and many occurrences at the Senate under Senate President Akpabio, but it’s about time I break my silence,” she wrote in the statement. “Arise TV set a date, and I shall be in your studio in person. Spare no questions. And to Nigerians, please, be sure to join the probe which I shall insist would be covered live.”
The senator emphasized the importance of public participation, stating that the upcoming days and weeks would be pivotal in shaping the standard and quality of Nigeria’s leadership.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also attached a copy of a petition to her post, urging Nigerians to closely follow the proceedings. The petition reflects her concerns about the conduct of the Senate leadership and her ongoing legal battles.
On Tuesday, the Kogi senator filed a N100 billion defamation suit against Senate President Akpabio and Mfon Patrick, Akpabio’s legislative aide. The lawsuit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, accuses Akpabio and Patrick of making defamatory comments about her. She is seeking an order for them to retract the statements and issue a public apology in a national newspaper.
The call for transparency, coupled with her legal action, signals Akpoti-Uduaghan’s determination to address what she sees as misconduct within the Senate and to uphold accountability.
