By Capital Watch Media
The National President of the Al-Mushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA), Ambassador Aminu Majidadi, has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to put an end to their public altercations, urging them to focus on pressing national issues rather than personal disputes.
Majidadi described the ongoing controversy between the two lawmakers as an unnecessary distraction from the critical challenges facing the nation. He stressed that Nigerians should not be subjected to the embarrassment of their personal grievances being played out on the Senate floor and in the media.
“The recent public altercations between the Senate President and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan are unbecoming of leaders entrusted with the responsibility of governance. The Senate is a revered institution expected to exemplify decorum, discipline, and a commitment to national development. It is therefore unacceptable for the chamber to be reduced to a stage for personal conflicts,” Majidadi stated.
The call for restraint follows the heated exchange between the two lawmakers, stemming from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims that she was being unfairly treated by Akpabio for allegedly rejecting his advances. The dispute, which escalated during a Senate plenary session, has drawn widespread reactions, further intensifying political tensions.
Majidadi warned that such controversies only serve to undermine public confidence in the legislative process, diverting attention from critical matters such as economic reforms, security challenges, and governance issues that require urgent intervention.
“At a time when Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, and infrastructural decay, it is shameful that those elected to address these issues are engaging in public spats. The Nigerian people deserve a Senate that prioritizes legislative duties over personal vendettas,” he added.
He urged both parties to resolve their differences through appropriate internal mechanisms rather than dragging the institution of the Senate into disrepute. Furthermore, he called on the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that legislative proceedings remain focused on national interest rather than individual conflicts.
“The Senate must rise above petty disputes and uphold the integrity of its mandate. Nigerians are watching, and history will not be kind to leaders who place personal grievances above the welfare of the nation,” Majidadi emphasized.
The controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s disciplinary review by the Senate Ethics Committee and her demand for a live broadcast of the proceedings further highlights the deepening rift within the upper chamber. However, AITA maintains that the priority must remain the effective discharge of legislative duties in a manner befitting the nation’s highest legislative body.
