Senate session turns tense as Akpoti-Uduaghan, Ndubueze clash during Steel Ministry budget defence

A mild drama played out at the Senate during the budget defence session of the Ministry of Steel Development, as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel Development, Senator Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North), engaged in a heated exchange over speaking rights.

The incident occurred during an interactive session with the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, when Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to raise what she described as critical questions concerning the ministry’s proposals.

Trouble started when the committee chairman moved to close the session and struck the gavel, signalling the end of proceedings, while the Kogi lawmaker was still seeking recognition to speak.

Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed to the chairman for permission to contribute, saying her questions were vital to the committee’s work. However, Ndubueze declined and insisted on ending the session, repeatedly striking the gavel.

“Mr Chairman, please don’t hit the gavel. I still have something to say, and I think you should respect me enough,” she protested.

In response, Ndubueze maintained that she had been accorded due respect and proceeded to formally draw the session to a close, thanking the minister for his appearance.

Visibly displeased, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the chairman of repeated disrespect and argued that committee members had not had sufficient opportunity to engage the minister.

“You have disrespected me more than enough,” she said. “This is an interactive session, and we have not met with the minister enough. Only God knows when next we will have the opportunity as a committee.”

The exchange has since drawn attention following the circulation of a video clip from the session.