Sen. Natasha Akpoti storms colleague’s office over committee membership dispute

Tension flared in the Senate on Monday as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Senator Titus Zam over alleged exclusion from the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

The incident occurred shortly after the committee concluded its scheduled meeting. Akpoti-Uduaghan, accompanied by her legislative and security aides, reportedly moved to the office of the committee chairman, Zam, seeking clarification on why she was not listed as a member.

Zam’s security personnel and aides prevented her from gaining access to the office, citing procedural concerns. In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan threatened to go live on her social media platforms to address the issue publicly.

The situation escalated when her warning triggered a confrontation between aides attached to both lawmakers, resulting in a brief scuffle. Witnesses reported minor physical exchanges before tensions heightened further.

Akpoti-Uduaghan then took a seat at the entrance of Zam’s office, effectively blocking access while the chairman remained inside.

Calm was eventually restored following the intervention of Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, who persuaded Akpoti-Uduaghan to vacate the premises.

Sources indicate that committee membership is typically structured to reflect Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with only two senators selected from each state, a formula that may have influenced the composition of the NCDC committee.