Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been at the center of a political storm following her confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Known for her strong-willed nature, the senator has engaged in multiple exchanges with the third citizen of the country.
The latest altercation erupted when Senator Natasha refused to move to a newly assigned seat without prior consultation. What began as an administrative matter soon escalated into a heated argument, leading Akpabio to instruct the sergeant-at-arms to remove her from the plenary session.
Days after the incident, Senator Natasha, in a February 28 interview on Arise TV, alleged that the Senate President sexually harassed her, further fueling public debate. As the controversy unfolds, political and social commentators continue to weigh in on the situation.
Who is Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan?
Here are some key facts about her:
1. Legal and Political Background: Natasha Hadiza Akpoti is a lawyer and politician born in December 1979.
2. Family Heritage: She is the only daughter of a Nigerian father and a Ukrainian mother. Her father, Dr. Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, hailed from Kogi State, while her mother, Ludmila Kravchenko, is from Ukraine.
3. Political Journey: This is her first term in the Senate. She previously contested in the 2019 senatorial election under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but lost.
4. Education: She completed her primary and secondary education in Nigeria, attending Christ the King Nursery and Primary School, Government Girls Unity Secondary School, and Federal Government College Idoani.
5. Higher Education & Advocacy: Natasha earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dundee, Scotland, in 2012. Her expertise in strategic management, international arbitration, and petroleum law has played a crucial role in her advocacy for reviving Nigeria’s steel sector, particularly the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State.
As the controversy surrounding her allegations against the Senate President continues, the nation watches closely to see how the situation unfolds.