Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, on Friday, faulted the action of his colleague, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over a seating arrangement dispute in the hallowed chamber.
Natasha, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Thursday, refused to use the seat allocated to her, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects the privileges of members.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio demanded that the female lawmaker be removed from the chambers at the height of the conflict, but fellow lawmakers’ intervention prevented the situation from deteriorating too much.
Adaramodu responded to the incident in a statement on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily in response to a question on the show.
The National Assembly is not intended to create entertainment-related content, according to what we are saying. National Assembly is for serious business,” he said.
READ ALSO: Drama Unfolds In Senate Over Seat Arrangement
Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District, also dismissed Senator Natasha’s allegations of bullying.
“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.
She is currently in charge of foreign affairs, NGOs, and you are only entitled to committee chairmanship, the Senate spokesman said.
However, the Senate spokesperson rejected her request for disciplinary action. He said Her Kogi State colleagues, particularly Senator Isah Jubril, had already offered her an apology.
He assured that the 10th Senate wouldn’t revisit the issue following the apology on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behalf.
We will not go back to that because the Senate as a whole has already accepted that tendered apology,” Adaramodu said.
Additionally, the Senate will hold a public hearing on tax reform proposals on Monday.
‘She wasn’t violent’
Weighing in on the issue, the Director of Programmes at Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, claimed Akpabio did not allow Senator Natasha to be heard.
Senator Natasha argued that Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules forbids her from speaking.
According to her on the show, who cited a 2018 incident in which Akpabio and then-Senate President Bukola Saraki had a similar issue, “I felt for myself,” she said.
Source: Channels TV
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