Drama unfolded at the National Assembly on Wednesday as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan stormed the premises amid a heated protest calling for Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s resignation. The demonstration quickly escalated into a showdown between her supporters and pro-Akpabio demonstrators.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has been vocal about her grievances against Akpabio, accusing him of sexual harassment and political intimidation. Her supporters, carrying placards with messages like “Akpabio Must Go!” and “We Stand with Natasha”, demanded a thorough investigation into her claims.
However, a counter-protest soon erupted, with pro-Akpabio demonstrators pushing back against her allegations. Banners reading “We Say No to Natasha’s Serial Blackmail” and “Akpabio Treated Natasha as a Daughter and Friend” were held high as tensions flared.
Security personnel, including plainclothes officers, attempted to disperse the initial wave of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters using tear gas at the National Assembly Arcade. Though forced to retreat, the protesters regrouped at a nearby location, determined to make their voices heard.
With emotions running high and both sides refusing to back down, the standoff at NASS underscores the deepening divisions in Nigeria’s political landscape.
