The political landscape of Kogi State witnessed a public clash between two senators, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central and Sunday Karimi representing Kogi West, following Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension from the Senate. The incident, stemming from a dispute over seating arrangements and escalating into accusations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, sparked a war of words between the two senators, exposing underlying tensions and raising questions about the conduct and integrity of lawmakers.
Karimi, a member of the All Progressives Congress, publicly justified Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, characterizing her actions as embarrassing and a disgrace to Kogi State. He recalled attempts to mediate the conflict, suggesting Akpoti-Uduaghan had been unresponsive to his appeals. Furthermore, Karimi evoked former Governor Yahaya Bello’s prior reservations about Akpoti-Uduaghan’s temperament, portraying her behavior as predictable and a vindication of Bello’s earlier concerns. Karimi’s statement painted a picture of Akpoti-Uduaghan as a disruptive force within the Senate, damaging the reputation of Kogi State on the national stage.
In a sharp retort, Akpoti-Uduaghan, speaking through her media aide, Israel Arogbonlo, countered Karimi’s criticism by calling for mandatory drug testing for senators. She suggested that such testing, administered by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), would mitigate “erratic legislative hallucinations” and ensure the integrity of the legislative process. Akpoti-Uduaghan referenced NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa’s previous advocacy for drug testing for political aspirants and the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission’s implementation of similar measures for local election candidates as precedents for her proposal.
The call for drug testing underscores the escalating tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and her colleagues in the Senate, framing the conflict not just as a personal dispute but as a reflection of a broader concern about the fitness of lawmakers to hold office. By invoking the need for drug testing, Akpoti-Uduaghan implicitly questions the mental and emotional stability of those who supported her suspension, suggesting their judgment may be impaired. This tactic serves to deflect criticism and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Senate’s actions against her.
The origins of the dispute lie in a seemingly mundane issue – a change in seating arrangements within the Senate chamber. Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, perceived the rearrangement as a deliberate attempt to marginalize her. This initial disagreement escalated dramatically when she publicly accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment, claiming her rejection of his advances led to retaliatory actions against her. This accusation transformed the conflict from an internal Senate matter into a public scandal, drawing wider attention to the power dynamics and potential abuses within the legislative body.
The suspension itself entails significant penalties for Akpoti-Uduaghan, including the withdrawal of her security detail, salary cuts, and a six-month ban from the National Assembly. Refusing to accept the Senate’s decision quietly, Akpoti-Uduaghan took her case to the international stage, presenting her allegations of political victimization at a United Nations forum, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, during a session on Women in Parliament. This move further amplified the controversy, bringing international scrutiny to the internal workings of the Nigerian Senate and raising concerns about the treatment of female lawmakers. Her appeal to the international community frames the conflict not just as a personal struggle but as a fight for justice and accountability within the Nigerian political system.
