Natasha vs Akpabio: Middlebelt Vanguard Decries Intimidation, Discrimination Against Women In Leadership

Following the altercation between the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, over seat allocation in the Red Chamber on Thursday, a non-governmental organization, the Middle-Belt Vanguard, has condemned the alleged rampant intimidation and discrimination against women in leadership.

The group also called on the Senate to serve as a platform for integrity, justice, and fairness, rather than one of intimidation and humiliation.

President of the group, Godwin Meliga, in a statement signed and released to journalists in Abuja, criticized Akpabio for publicly humiliating the senator, citing a previous incident where he made disparaging remarks about her speaking without recognition.

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According to Meliga, the Senate President’s behavior was not an isolated event.

“On February 20, 2025, Akpabio reallocated Senate seats but failed to consult or notify the affected senators, including Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan,” he stated.

Meliga pointed out that while the Senate President has the authority to assign seats, fairness and due process dictate that senators should be informed beforehand.

He said: “Senator Natasha was unfairly silenced when she tried to address the issue, with her concerns dismissed on the grounds that she was not seated in her assigned spot.”

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This, Meliga argued, was an example of a double standard, especially since Senator Akpabio himself had previously raised similar concerns during Bukola Saraki’s tenure as Senate President and was allowed to speak even from an unassigned seat.

He questioned why the same privilege was not extended to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing it as a clear case of discrimination.

The group, therefore, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, fellow senators, and Nigerians to stand in solidarity with the Kogi lawmaker and ensure she receives the respect and fairness she is entitled to as an elected representative.

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Meliga reassured Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to remain resilient in the face of adversity, asserting that her service to the people of Kogi Central should not be undermined.

He further declared that the Middle-Belt Vanguard would not tolerate any form of discrimination against women in leadership, nor the erosion of democratic principles in the country.