A fresh confrontation occurred on Monday at the National Assembly in Abuja involving the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the senator representing Benue North-West, Titus Zam.
The incident reportedly took place at the office of Senator Zam, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). The disagreement followed a budget defence session held earlier in the day by the committee.
Sources within the National Assembly told our correspondent that the committee meeting was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Lawmakers and invited officials were expected to review and defend budget proposals linked to development projects in the North Central region.
However, by the time Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the venue, the meeting had already ended.
According to eyewitnesses, the Kogi Central lawmaker, accompanied by her legislative aides, went to Senator Zam’s office to seek clarification on why the session had ended before her arrival.
Tension reportedly increased when she was denied entry into the chairman’s office. What began as a request for explanation soon turned into a heated exchange between members of her team and staff attached to the committee chairman.
Witnesses alleged that voices were raised and tempers flared as both sides argued over the situation. During the commotion, one of the senator’s aides was accused of physically confronting a staff member working in the chairman’s office.
The situation drew the attention of security officials attached to the National Assembly. Security personnel were said to have stepped in quickly to prevent further escalation and restore calm.
Although order was eventually restored, the exact cause of the disagreement and what was said behind closed doors remain unclear.
As of press time, there has been no official statement from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator Zam, or the leadership of the Senate regarding the incident.
Monday’s clash adds to a growing list of tense moments involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in recent weeks.
Last week, she was involved in another heated exchange during a committee session. The disagreement occurred at a meeting of the Senate Committee on Steel Development chaired by Patrick Ndubueze.
The session was an interactive meeting with the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, who appeared before the committee to answer questions and discuss plans for the steel sector.
According to those present, tension arose when Senator Ndubueze attempted to conclude the minister’s appearance after several lawmakers had spoken. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly insisted that she should be allowed to continue her remarks.
She was said to have described the attempt to end the session while she was still speaking as disrespectful. The disagreement led to raised voices before she eventually left the meeting.
Budget defence sessions are a key part of the National Assembly’s oversight duties. During these sessions, ministries, departments and agencies appear before relevant committees to explain how they intend to spend allocated funds.
Lawmakers are expected to ask questions, seek clarification and ensure that public funds are properly planned and accounted for. These meetings are often detailed and sometimes tense, as they involve scrutiny of government spending.
The North Central Development Commission is one of the regional development bodies created to address infrastructure and economic challenges in Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. The commission focuses on projects in states such as Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory.
As chairman of the Senate committee overseeing the commission, Senator Zam plays a key role in supervising its activities and reviewing its budget proposals.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has been vocal on issues relating to development in her district and the wider North Central region. She has often called for transparency and fairness in the allocation of projects and funds.
At the time of filing this report, the Senate leadership had not issued any official statement on Monday’s confrontation.
Attempts to reach aides of both senators for comment were not successful. It is not yet clear whether the Senate will investigate the matter internally or allow it to pass without formal action.
The National Assembly has rules guiding the conduct of members and their aides within its premises. Physical confrontations are generally frowned upon, and security personnel are tasked with maintaining order at all times.
For now, what is clear is that Monday’s confrontation has added to ongoing discussions about decorum and cooperation within the Senate.
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