Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Walks Out As Senate Budget Defence Erupts In Clash With Committee Chairman

A budget defence at the Senate took an unexpected turn on Wednesday after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central walked out of an ongoing session, protesting what she described as an attempt to silence her.

The incident happened during an interactive meeting between the Senate Committee on Steel Development and the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, over the ministry’s appropriation request. The engagement had stretched for nearly four hours when the committee chairman, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, moved to end the session by striking the gavel.

Akpoti-Uduaghan immediately objected, insisting she still had important issues to raise and should be allowed to continue questioning the minister.

“It’s very important. I still have something to say, and I think you should respect me enough,” she told the chairman.

Ndubueze, however, maintained that the minister’s time was up and proceeded to excuse him from the meeting. The decision angered the Kogi lawmaker, who stood up and accused the committee leadership of deliberately cutting her off from the discussion.

“This is an interactive session and I have something vital to interface with the Minister,” she said before walking out of the room.

Her exit briefly disrupted the proceedings and drew attention to internal disagreements over how committee budget reviews are handled in the Senate.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four female senators in the 10th Senate, is known for her vocal approach to governance and development issues and has repeatedly pushed back against procedures she believes limit robust legislative scrutiny.

Video: Senator Natasha Akpoti walks out of committee after a heated argument with Senator Ndibueze.

Credit: News Century pic.twitter.com/W8vgLvMec2

— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) February 12, 2026