Police Disperse Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Supporters with Tear Gas at National Assembly Amid Heated Feud with Senate President Akpabio Over Allegations and Disciplinary Action
Security operatives deployed tear gas on Wednesday morning to disperse supporters of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) who gathered at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The protesters, who arrived at the assembly gate as early as 8 a.m. ahead of the resumption of plenary, were met with a swift police response. Officers fired tear gas canisters to prevent them from accessing the complex, forcing them to relocate to the Unity Fountain, a frequent site for demonstrations in the capital.
The protest stems from an ongoing feud between Akpoti-Uduaghan, a PDP senator, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The dispute began on February 20 over seating arrangements in the Senate chamber, leading to her referral to the Senate’s disciplinary committee.
In retaliation, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio. Last Friday, she further accused the Senate President of targeting her after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances, a claim his wife, Ekaette Akpabio, has denied.
The embattled senator is scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions at 2 p.m. today.
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