Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has become a focal point of controversy in Nigeria’s Senate following a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, igniting discussions about the treatment of female legislators.
The disagreement began on February 20 when Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered her seat had been reassigned without her consent, leading to a public confrontation that has since dominated headlines.
In a passionate defense of Akpoti-Uduaghan, Starnews NG reports that Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, widow of former Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, took to her verified X account to criticise the Senate, labeling all the lawmakers in the State and National Assemblies of Nigeria as an “assemblage of boys brigade.”
Her remarks convey a strong condemnation of the environment faced by female senators, asserting that the treatment of Akpoti-Uduaghan reflects a broader issue of gender discrimination in Nigerian politics.
“It’s disheartening how our female senators are being humiliated at the national assembly,” Anyanwu-Akeredolu stated. She elaborated on the implications of the incident, saying, “The altercation between the Senate President, Akpabio, and Senator Natasha vindicates our position that men in this country are not willing to ‘shift’ for our women to partake in the governance of Nigeria.”
Her comments highlight the persistent challenges women face in political spaces dominated by male counterparts.
According to her own words as copied from her verified X account by Starnews NG, she added, “This assemblage of ‘Boys Brigade’ at the national and state assemblies wants to provoke us to justify their archaic held belief that women lack emotional temperament required for high political office. HELL NO! IT WON’T WORK THIS TIME!!”
Anyanwu-Akeredolu also criticised the silence of female legislators, noting, “Now, we know why we don’t hear our female legislators talk. We don’t see them present bills. Notin, notin. Meanwhile, we complain that they are bench warmers. Trophy legislators. Now we know better.”
In a show of solidarity with Akpoti-Uduaghan, the outspoken Akeredolu declared, “GO NATASHA, NOTIN DO YOU!!! Voice out your frustration for the whole world to know what the few female legislators are going through in Nigeria. My advice: BE A BAD GIRL! BE MILLIE ODIAMBO!…WE GOT YOUR BACK!”
As Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan continues to navigate this controversy, Starnews NG reports that her situation has sparked critical conversations about the urgent need for change in the legislative environment, advocating for greater respect and representation for women in Nigerian politics.
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