Natasha Vs Akpabio Vs Oshiomhole: Tense Exchange In Senate

A tense moment played out in the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, when a disagreement erupted between Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), and Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) during deliberations on the Criminal Code Amendment Bill 2025.

The drama began after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan sought to make additional comments on the bill’s abortion clause, despite the Senate’s earlier resolution to step down that section for committee review. The bill seeks to impose harsher penalties for sexual offenses, including life imprisonment for offenders convicted of defiling minors. However, the proposed clauses relating to abortion sparked controversy among lawmakers, who feared that unclear wording could endanger women in medical emergencies or expose doctors to legal prosecution.

Following heated deliberations, the Senate agreed to suspend discussion on the abortion-related provisions and referred them to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for detailed scrutiny. A report on the matter is expected within two weeks.

Moments after the referral decision, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stood up to revisit the abortion clause, arguing that, as a woman, she should be allowed to highlight its potential impact on maternal health. Her attempt, however, was immediately challenged by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who raised a point of order, citing parliamentary rules that prohibit reopening a matter already resolved or referred to a committee.

Oshiomhole insisted that allowing Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak would violate Senate procedures and could set a dangerous precedent. “Once an issue has been stepped down, it cannot be debated again until the committee submits its report,” he maintained.

Senate President Akpabio supported Oshiomhole’s objection, citing Senate Rule 52(6), which bars lawmakers from revisiting concluded debates without a formal motion to rescind the earlier decision. Akpabio then ruled Akpoti-Uduaghan out of order, effectively ending the exchange.

Despite the Senate President’s ruling, the brief confrontation exposed underlying tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership. While some senators quietly supported Akpabio’s interpretation of the rules, others privately described the exchange as unnecessarily dismissive, arguing that Akpoti-Uduaghan was only trying to provide a gender-sensitive perspective on a highly controversial issue.

Shortly after the session, a video clip of the incident surfaced online, sparking widespread debate among Nigerians. Some social media users criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan for allegedly disregarding parliamentary rules, while others accused Akpabio and Oshiomhole of using procedural technicalities to silence a female lawmaker.

One commentator wrote, “They should allow Senator Natasha to do her job. It’s the Nigerian Senate, not Akpabio’s Senate. Every senator deserves to be heard.” Others countered that she should have waited for the committee’s report before revisiting the issue.

Observers say the episode reflects the growing tension in the 10th National Assembly, where sharp divisions have emerged over issues of gender inclusion, transparency, and legislative independence. The Criminal Code Amendment Bill 2025 remains one of the most closely watched pieces of legislation in recent months, particularly its provisions on women’s reproductive rights and sexual violence.

The Senate’s Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters is expected to present its findings before the next plenary session, after which the controversial clauses will be reexamined. Until then, Nigerians continue to debate not just the merits of the bill, but also the conduct of their elected representatives inside the Red Chamber.