Police operatives have on Wednesday morning, used tear gas to disperse supporters of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) who had gathered at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The protesters had assembled at the assembly gate as early as 8:00a.m. ahead of the resumption of plenary. However, police officers swiftly intervened, firing tear gas canisters to prevent them from accessing the complex.
The demonstrators relocated to the Unity Fountain, a common site for protests in the capital.
The protest follows an ongoing dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan, a PDP lawmaker, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The clash began on February 20 over seating arrangements in the Senate chamber, after which Akpoti-Uduaghan was referred to the Senate’s disciplinary committee.
In response, the senator filed a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio.
Last Friday, she further alleged that the Senate President was targeting her because she rejected his sexual advances, prompting his wife, Ekaette Akpabio, to defend him.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has been summoned to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions at 2:00p.m. today.