The long-awaited return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the National Assembly on Tuesday quickly turned chaotic as security operatives fired teargas to disperse her supporters, who had thronged the main gate of the complex to receive her.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, had completed a six-month suspension imposed by the Senate and made her way back to resume legislative duties.
She was greeted by a large crowd of jubilant constituents, many of whom travelled from Kogi State, including women, youths, and community leaders, to celebrate her reinstatement.
However, tensions escalated when she was allegedly denied immediate access into the Assembly complex.
The delay sparked agitation among her supporters outside the gate, prompting security operatives to intervene.
Witnesses reported that officers deployed to the scene resorted to firing teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The incident led to a stampede in which several individuals sustained injuries. Emergency services were quickly mobilised, and those hurt were taken to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care.
Eyewitnesses described the atmosphere as highly tense, noting that the heavy-handed response of the security personnel contrasted sharply with the peaceful mood of the supporters.
“It was meant to be a day of joy and a symbolic return for her, but it ended up becoming a nightmare,” a staff member of the National Assembly said, lamenting the turn of events.
This disruption came just as news had circulated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office in the National Assembly had been reopened, fuelling expectations among her followers that she would resume work seamlessly.
Speaking after the confrontation, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan strongly condemned the actions of the security agencies.
“These are innocent Nigerians who came peacefully to welcome me back. They did not deserve such treatment. My return should have been celebrated as a democratic right, not suppressed with intimidation,” she declared.
Her remarks drew swift reactions from civil society organisations and political commentators, many of whom criticised the security response and urged Senate leadership to take responsibility for ensuring that such confrontations do not recur.
They also emphasised that the incident highlights a troubling trend of political intolerance and shrinking civic space in Nigeria’s democracy, particularly around the National Assembly, which ought to be a symbol of open representation.
The violent dispersal of her supporters has once again ignited debates about the relationship between elected representatives, their constituents, and the state’s security institutions, with analysts warning that continued clashes could undermine public confidence in the legislature.
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