The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, has criticised Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over a dispute concerning her seating arrangement in the chamber.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party, had on Thursday refused to use the seat assigned to her, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects members’ privileges.

The dispute arose after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat was reassigned due to a reshuffle triggered by opposition members switching to the majority wing.

However, she resisted the relocation.

In defiance, the Kogi senator spoke out loudly, accusing the leadership of attempting to silence her.

“I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege,” she declared.

During the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on security to remove her from the chamber, but intervention from fellow lawmakers prevented further escalation.

Reacting to the incident in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Adaramodu said the Senate was not a platform for entertainment.

“What we are saying is that the National Assembly is not for content creation in entertainment. National Assembly is for serious business,” he said.

Addressing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim of being sidelined, Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South, said she had already been appointed chairperson of three committees, including Foreign Affairs and NGOs.

“If she is talking like that being bullied or sidelined, as a first-timer, she even had three committees that she was appointed as chairman.

“You are entitled to only committee to be the chairman and she is in charge of Foreign Affairs, NGOs now,” the Senate spokesman said.

When asked about possible disciplinary action, he noted that her Kogi colleague, Senator Isah Jubril, had apologised on her behalf.

“The Senate as a whole has already accepted that tendered apology, so we are not going to revisit that,” Adaramodu stated.

[Punch]