A tense confrontation unfolded on Monday, February 16, 2026, at the office of Senator Titus Zam (Benue North‑West) when Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan (Kogi Central) sought clarification over her exclusion from the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission.
The incident reportedly involved heated exchanges between the senator’s team and aides to the committee chairman, highlighting rising tensions over committee appointments in the 10th National Assembly.
Video footage circulating online shows a heated interaction between Akpoti‑Uduaghan’s media team and the committee chairman’s aides, including allegations of verbal hostility and interference with equipment.
The senator arrived to participate in a committee meeting only to discover her name missing from the official attendance list.
Seeking clarification, she approached Senator Zam’s office and was reportedly informed that her omission was based on instructions from higher authorities, though no further details were provided.
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Akpoti‑Uduaghan described her exclusion as part of a recurring pattern of marginalization within the Senate.
“All senators are constitutionally equal in status, authority, and mandate,” she said, reaffirming her commitment to fairness and institutional integrity.
She emphasized that her stance reflects the electoral mandate given to her by the people of Kogi Central and pledged to continue advocating for equitable treatment whenever legislative rights are undermined.
The controversy comes amid scrutiny of committee appointments in the 10th National Assembly, where membership is widely considered a key platform for legislative oversight, policy input, and constituency representation.
Observers say incidents of this nature, involving lawmakers or their aides on official premises, underscore the need for transparency, clear procedural rules, and accountability.
No official statement has yet been issued by the Senate leadership or the office of Senator Zam regarding the incident, and the full circumstances remain unverified.