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SENATE SHOWDOWN: KINGIBE CALLS OUT AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN OVER RULES
A heated debate is brewing in the Nigerian Senate, with Senator Ireti Kingibe accusing her colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, of disregarding the upper chamber’s rules. The controversy surrounds a change in seating arrangements, which led to a tense exchange between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
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WHY FEMALE SENATORS KEPT QUIET
Kingibe revealed that female senators had chosen not to publicly criticize Akpoti-Uduaghan, hoping the issue would resolve itself. “Silence is golden, especially when one of us is not following the rules,” Kingibe explained. However, she emphasized that the Senate is not a place for petty squabbles, stating, “This is about the rules of the Senate… The Senate is not a place where we should be fighting over trivialities like seating arrangements.”
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SENATE PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES
In a related development, Senate President Akpabio has apologized to Akpoti-Uduaghan for his remarks during the incident, which some perceived as sexist ¹. Akpabio clarified that he would never intentionally denigrate any woman and expressed his commitment to uplifting women.
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A PROBE LOOMS
The Nigerian Senate has decided to investigate Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has vowed to ensure that the proceedings are broadcast live. As the drama unfolds, one thing is clear: the Senate’s rules and procedures will be scrutinized, and the outcome will have significant implications for the institution.
