Akpoti-Uduaghan Walks Out of Senate Steel Budget Session After Dispute with Committee Chair

Proceedings at a Senate budget defence session on Wednesday were briefly disrupted when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) walked out after a disagreement with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel Development, Senator Patrick Ndubueze.

The incident occurred during a review of the Ministry of Steel Development’s appropriation request, following nearly four hours of engagement with the minister, Prince Shuaibu Audu, and his team.

As the session drew to a close, Ndubueze signaled the end of proceedings with the gavel. Akpoti-Uduaghan objected, asking to continue her line of questioning.

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

Ndubueze maintained that the minister’s allotted time had ended and formally excused him. The decision prompted Akpoti-Uduaghan to rise from her seat and accuse the committee leadership of preventing her from participating fully in the discussion.

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

The walkout paused the session and drew attention to tensions over how committee budget reviews are managed in the Senate.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of four women in the 10th Senate and is known for her positions on governance and development issues.