The shameful and disgraceful treatment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan during Thursday’s plenary session stands as a searing indictment of the toxic culture of bullying and gender discrimination that festers within Nigeria’s political institutions. Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s crude dismissal and rough handling of a female colleague’s rightful protest was not merely a breach of parliamentary decorum – it was an abhorrent act of gender oppression, a naked abuse of power wielded to silence a woman who dared to demand fairness, respect and equality. Such crude behavior not only violates the principles of democratic governance but also reinforces the structural barriers women face in politics.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), arriving to find her seat reassigned without prior notice, and her nameplate callously removed, sought recognition under Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules which protects members’ privileges – an appeal made not as a plea, but as a right. Yet Akpabio, with an iron hand and a heart seemingly deaf to justice, refused her voice, and refused to acknowledge her grievance. Instead of addressing the matter with the transparency and respect that every Senator deserves, Akpabio escalated the situation and compounded the affront by summoning security officials, including the Sergeant-at-Arms, to forcibly suppress her protest and throw her out of the august chamber. This egregious overreaction to a lawful expression of dissent, tantamount to assault and public humiliation, would be inconceivable and unthinkable if the senator in question was a man.
This sad episode was not merely about seat reallocation. It was a power play designed to humiliate and marginalize a female senator who dared to challenge the status quo. This incident transcended mere procedural reshuffling—it was a calculated display of dominance, a stark reminder that, for women in Nigeria’s corridors of power, speaking truth to authority is too often met with derision and brute force. The subsequent interventions by Senators Isah Jibrin (Kogi East) and Karimi Sunday (Kogi West) – both of whom sought to downplay the incident and chastise Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for her unwarranted and “unnecessary” reaction, reeked of patriarchal condescension – the age-old tactic of dismissing women’s outrage as hysteria. Their hollow appeals for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to “accept changes in good faith” and not “escalate the matter” echo the all-too-familiar refrain used to silence women who speak out against injustice, and were nothing more than veiled admonitions to know one’s place and suffer in silence. It further illustrates the systemic dismissal of women’s voices within the Senate.
Senate President Akpabio’s claim that seat reallocation is routine and governed by established rules rings hollow in the face of his blatant disregard for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to seek redress. Akpabio’s invocation of Section 6(1) and (2) of the Senate Standing Orders to justify his actions is a flimsy veil that cannot mask the stench of injustice. The selective application of these rules—wielded like a cudgel against a woman who dared to question authority—exposes the moral rot within the Senate’s power dynamics. Worse still, the deployment of security personnel to quell a legislator’s lawful dissent is a chilling precedent that threatens the very foundation of democratic governance.
The use of security personnel to intimidate and silence a female legislator sets a dangerous precedent that must not be allowed to stand. It signals to women across Nigeria that their voices are unwelcome in the halls of power and that their legitimate concerns will be met with force rather than dialogue. This spectacle of intimidation sends a dangerous message to women across Nigeria: that their presence in the halls of power is tolerated only so long as they do not dare to speak too loudly or challenge too boldly. Such actions are not merely undemocratic—they are a betrayal of the very principles of equality, respect, and justice that the Senate is sworn to uphold.
As the leader of Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, Senate President Akpabio bears a solemn duty to uphold the principles of respect, equality, and fair treatment for all senators, regardless of gender. His actions during this incident betray that responsibility and cast a shadow over the Senate’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment. As the steward of Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, Akpabio’s behavior during this incident was a dereliction of that duty – a stain upon the Senate’s integrity that cannot be ignored. We therefore demand that Senate President Akpabio issue a public apology to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and reaffirm his commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all senators, irrespective of gender.
Furthermore, we urge the Senate to implement measures that ensure greater transparency and accountability in procedural matters, preventing the misuse of authority to silence dissenting voices. Moreover, we call upon the Senate to institute comprehensive reforms that safeguard against the misuse of authority, ensuring that no legislator – woman or man – is ever again subjected to such degrading treatment. Bullying and gender bias are cancers that must be excised from our political institutions, lest they continue to poison the very heart of our democracy.
The Nigerian people deserve leaders who lead not through coercion and intimidation, but through fairness, and unwavering respect for all voices. Let this shameful episode serve as a catalyst for change so that no woman who walks into the halls of power will ever again have to fight simply to be heard. Bullying and gender bias have no place in the Senate, or in any institution that claims to represent the people. It is time for our leaders to lead by example, demonstrating that power must be exercised with fairness, empathy, and respect for all, irrespective of gender. The people of Nigeria deserve nothing less.
