Natasha’s Conundrums: Her Gains And Pains For Kogi Central, By Ozumi Abdul

At home in the Kogi Central Senatorial District, suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is seen as a contentious figure, frequently at odds with established leadership and openly confrontational toward those she deems adversaries. She often targets certain individuals as sworn enemies and extends her hostility to anyone associated with them.
She has shown little or no regard for the paramount traditional ruler of Ebiraland, the Ohinoyi, while curiously extending respect to his subordinates, the Ohis, honor she unarguably ought to reserve for the Ohinoyi himself.
Like a leaking basket spilling water everywhere, Senator Natasha carried her confrontational and unruly demeanor into the Nigerian Senate. She seems to disregard the fact that legislative proceedings, whether in plenary sessions or committee meetings, are governed by established Senate rules.
These rules not only guide the conduct of members but also provide for sanctions in cases of violation. The Senate chamber is called “hallowed” for a reason, it is a space where order and decorum are paramount.
It will be recalled that on March 20 this year, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno raised a point of order to report Senator Natasha for breaching Senate rules. He cited Order 6, which mandates that “the President of the Senate shall allocate a seat to each senator.” Subsection 6(2) further stipulates that senators may only speak from the seat allocated by the presiding officer, who also reserves the right to reassign seats when necessary.
Relying on this provision, Senator Monguno explained:
“It is at the discretion of the Senate President, as circumstances may warrant, to reassign a senator’s seat. Recently, two senators, Ned Nwoko (PDP) and Francis Ezenwa (Labour Party), defected to the APC, necessitating their movement from the Minority to the Majority side. Exercising the powers vested in him under Order 6(2), the Senate President directed the Chief Whip to reallocate seats. Following this directive, Senator Natasha was assigned a new seat, but she refused to vacate her previous one, in direct violation of our rules.”
Senator Monguno urged that, based on the standing rules, Senator Natasha must comply with the seat reassignment or risk being denied recognition to speak during plenary.

After the Chief Whip completed his submission, the Senate President upheld the point of order by striking the gavel. This ruling meant that Senator Natasha could no longer address the chamber unless she did so from her newly assigned seat.
In defiance of this directive, Senator Natasha leapt to her feet, waving a copy of the Senate rules and shouting “Point of Order.” The Senate President reminded her that she could not speak unless seated in her designated position.
Ignoring this, she continued to shout, invoking Order 10, which deals with breaches of a senator’s privileges.
Due to her continued disruption, the Senate President ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort her out of the chamber. The officer moved in her direction but hesitated, perhaps expecting her to calm down and comply. The Senate President, meanwhile, refrained from repeating the order, likely to de-escalate the situation.
Some senators approached her in an attempt to placate her, but she rebuffed their efforts and continued making disrespectful remarks.
Amid the controversy, days later, Senator Natasha accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a grave allegation. Following this, the Senate disciplinary committee imposed a six-month suspension on her, most notably for her unruly attitudes, not because of her allegation against the Senate President.
Since then, Senator Natasha has seemingly embraced the spotlight, enjoying media attention and public sympathy, elevating her profile more as a controversial figure, than as a lawmaker tasked with representing her constituents.
She has continued to grant numerous interviews,many of them deemed unnecessary, on both local and international platforms. She has become a social media sensation, a globetrotter, and, some would argue, a celebrity. Her public appearances with her husband at the National Assembly, where they were seen kissing and dancing, have drawn criticism. These displays have led many to believe that she is relishing her suspension, while the people of Kogi Central remain without representation.
Her absence raises a constitutional concern. Her constituents are now effectively voiceless in the Senate, potentially undermining their right to representation, a right enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. This situation potends a dangerous precedent.
Just days ago, the Senate further removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, replacing her with Senator Aniekan Bassey.
The committee plays a key role in engaging the Nigerian diaspora, guiding policies on remittances, fostering dialogue with local authorities, and promoting cross-border collaboration. It also oversees diaspora-related budget proposals.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had only recently been reassigned to the Diaspora Committee on February 4, following her removal as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content, a move that was part of a broader committee reshuffle.
Her previous chairmanship of the Local Content Committee could have brought significant benefits to her constituents, particularly in areas of employment and local development.
However, these opportunities appear to have taken a back seat to her increasingly dramatic public displays. A six-month suspension is no small matter. It has tangible consequences for the constituency she was elected to serve.
Yes, Senator Natasha has been distributing food and grains, but as the saying goes, “man shall not live by bread alone.” Her constituents need more than handouts, they need active, consistent representation in the Senate.
While she travels and embraces the limelight, her people endure the cost of her absence. At the end, Natasha’s suspension is her gains, while it remains the pains of her constituents in Kogi Central Senatorial District.

Ozumi Abdul is a journalist, writer, columnist, fact-checker and PR consultant. He can be reached via abdulozumi83@gmail.com