Police fires teargas as Natasha’s supporters storm NASS over alleged Akpabio’s sexual harrasment

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force fired teargas on Wednesday morning to stop protesters believed to be supporters of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from entering the National Assembly Complex.

The protesters gathered at the gate as early as 8am before the plenary session resumed.

The police acted quickly, using teargas canisters to force the demonstrators to disperse, after which the crowd moved to the Unity Fountain to continue their protest.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has been caught up in a bitter conflict with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements in the Senate.

The dispute on February 20 resulted in her referral to the Senate’s disciplinary panel, and in a dramatic move, she later filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio.

Last Friday, she publicly accused Akpabio of punishing and maligning her because she refused his alleged sexual advances.

Reports also show that a similar protest is happening in her Kogi State constituency, organized by the Kogi Central People’s Alliance (KOCEPA).

Protesters there carried placards with messages like “Senator Akpabio, stop the intimidation and harassment of Dist. Sen. Natasha” and “A Senate In Shackles: Breaking Free From Sen. Akpabio’s Grip On Our Democracy.

Enough Of Sen. Akpabio.” An eyewitness noted that unlike in Abuja, the protest in Kogi Central has not been disturbed by the police.