TheNewsGuru

Tag: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

  • Akpabio forced to “eat the humble pie” after insulting Senator Natasha

    Akpabio forced to “eat the humble pie” after insulting Senator Natasha

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has apologised to his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for an uncomplimentary comment he directed at her.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.

    During plenary last Thursday, Akpabio rebuffed Natasha for attempting to speak without recognition.

    He remarked, “Senator Natasha, you cannot speak without being asked or invited to speak in the Senate. This is not a nightclub”.

    However, during plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio noted that he would never deliberately denigrate a woman.

    In his apology, Akpabio reiterated that he never intended to insult any woman.

    He mentioned that his phone had been overwhelmed with insults regarding the issue.

    “I will not intentionally denigrate any woman, and I always pray that God will uplift women. Distinguished Senator Natasha, I want to apologise to you.

    “The interest shown on social media indicates that we have enemies. I felt I should tender a public apology to you. I do not mean any harm.

    “People should focus on things that will move this country forward. Social media handlers should practise with decorum.

    “We won’t regulate social media out of anger,” Akpabio said.

  • ‘We’re not in a nightclub’ – Akpabio slammed for talking down at Senator Natasha in Senate

    ‘We’re not in a nightclub’ – Akpabio slammed for talking down at Senator Natasha in Senate

    The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Thursday, came under heavy criticisim for cautioning  Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on the floor of the Senate.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Akpabio during Senate session said those in favour of the second reading of a bill should say ‘Aye’ while those against say ‘Nay’.

    The ‘Nay’ response was the loudest and as the Senate President contemplated his next action, Senator Natasha rose to explain why she and some others were against the second reading of the bill.

    “Mr President, we don’t want it to be killed. We just want a bit of modification. We don’t want the bill killed but there should be slight modification…”

    Responding to her, Akpabio said, “You see Senator Natasha, in the chamber, you have to be recognized before you speak. We’re not in a nightclub.”

    Natasha said, “Oh, pardon me,” and returned to her seat.

    Akpabio’s remark to the senator has elicited negative reactions from Nigerians, who have taken to the video’s comment section to condemn how the Senate president handled the circumstances.

    Jess wrote: “E no Dey hard for you to know men wey Dey talk down on their wives.. gvtter behavior.”

    chiek007 wrote: ‘‘This is the reality of women in places of authority… it’s a struggle, but she will prevail!!!”

    mmejanez wrote: ”Must be embarrassing to have a father like this..”

    ozioma_electronics wrote: ”Misogyny is everywhere ladies protect yourselves.”

    ozioma_electronics wrote: ”E Dey pain some men say I Dey market electronics especially in this market, in this Alaba market electronics business is a male dominated industry, so when they see that as I am a female and I am thriving they get angry, one man had the effrontery to me that I should be in the kitchen or a wife raising just kids, I told him I am not like his lazy female family members that only have childcare and marriage as their only ambition.”

    its_mirabelle wrote: ‘‘This woman has seen 99 may the Allmighty not let her see 100.”

    gwenshuga1 wrote: ‘‘She apologised so what is night club statement. I no know say this Akpabio is a misogynist.”

    okunenyeife_cko wrote: ‘‘i think this senate president doesn’t have much regard for female senators, fierce strongly willed woman who all defeated men to clinch that seat. The way this senate president is going, he’s greatly embarrassing the chambers gender diversity culture with his utterances. i think they have to call him to order, abi banana 🍌 peels don finish for senate?”

    lyricsmoe wrote: ”I see most people bring the misogyny card and it’s unfortunate that that’s wat we see. I’ve seen this same Sen President talk to men with disdain and it’s a gutter behaviour of who he is. I believe in women rights and I condemn this act but not everything is about men trumping it. Facts don’t care about feelings.”

  • PHOTOS: Senate President, Akpabio, colleagues celebrate IWD

    PHOTOS: Senate President, Akpabio, colleagues celebrate IWD

    President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Principal Officers of the Senate and his colleagues, today joined Senators Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, Idiat Adebule, Ipalibo Harry Banigo and Ireti Kingibe in celebrating International Women’s Day in the Senate.

  • Kogi Govt accuses Uduaghan’s wife of links with Owo church massacre suspect

    Kogi Govt accuses Uduaghan’s wife of links with Owo church massacre suspect

    The Kogi State Government has called for the arrest of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged links with one Safiu claimed to be one of the terror suspects behind the attack on Owo Catholic Church.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mrs Uduaghan, a lawyer, is the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi Central Senatorial District in the 2023 elections.

    The Kogi State Government also disclosed that Safiu has been linked to the dastardly attack on the Kuje Correctional Center as well as military formations within and outside the State.

    The State Government in a statement released by its Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo in Lokoja, alleged that Uduaghan had exhibited enough actions to put the country at risk.

    The statement reads in part: “It is worrisome for the PDP that Natasha represents to come out openly to identify with Safiu, a terror suspect that is linked to the bloody attack on a church in Owo that led to the death of scores of worshippers.

    “It was a thing of relief to the people of Kogi Central that security agencies were able to apprehend their Chief Tormentor. Criminality doesn’t know political party. A criminal is a criminal and should be treated as such.

    “The fact that they (PDP) claimed Safiu was their party member is an admission of strong links to him and his nefarious and deadly activities. As an administration, we are witnessing a surge in criminality in Kogi Central.

    “Available data shows that Kogi Central today accounts for 51.2% of the total crime rate in Kogi State. With the billions of naira we have invested in strengthening our security architecture that has guaranteed peace in the state, we will not accept a revert into the days of bloodbath.

    “We call on security agencies to arrest defenders of terrorists and ask them their levels of involvement. No matter how smart they think they are, they cannot beat our robust security architecture.

    “Do they have a contract with some terrorist groups to distabilize the state? Are they afraid that Safiu and other arrested terrorists will expose their dirty and bloody deals? What do they know about some terror cells in Kogi Central? They need to provide answers.”

    PDP alleges plot to plant guns, others at its candidates’ homes, campaign offices

    Meanwhile, the PDP in Kogi State has raised the alarm over an alleged conspiracy by the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cause harm to the lives, reputations and ambitions of its candidates ahead of the 2023 elections.

    In a letter to the police, army and State Security Service, the party said its candidates have faced an undue and unprecedented level of persecution, intimidation and attacks against their persons as well as their close political associates.

    The party added that it had uncovered plans to plant guns, ammunition and other incriminating weapons at the home of Mrs Uduaghan.

  • Court quashes suit seeking nullification of Kogi PDP’s Central Senatorial candidate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

    Court quashes suit seeking nullification of Kogi PDP’s Central Senatorial candidate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

    Justice Peter Mallong of the Federal High Court on Friday dismissed a suit seeking to nullify the candidacy of Barrister Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi Central.

    The judge held that the legal action instituted by another contestant, Adamu Atta, was grossly incompetent and incurably defective and thereby robbed the court of jurisdiction to entertain it.

    Atta had in his originating summons alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan did not win the primary election for the 2023 general election and therefore her nomination should be nullified.

    He claimed among others, that the May 25 primary election which produced Akpoti-Uduaghan was flawed and not validly conducted by the party as required by law.

    The plaintiff asked the court to void and set aside the primary election as well as the eventual nomination of the defendant.

    However, Akpoti-Uduaghan through her counsel, John Usman (SAN) had vehemently objected to hearing of the suit on the grounds that the originating summon was not endorsed as required by law.

    The counsel in his preliminary objection against the legal action relied on section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act to establish that the originating summon was incurably defective and incompetent having not been endorsed in line with provisions of the law.

    Besides the incompetence of the originating summon, Akpoti-Uduaghan had in her counter affidavit averred that the primary election conducted on 25th May, 2022, was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and that she validly won, attaching the result, delegates list and INEC report.

    In his judgment, Justice Mallong agreed with Usman (SAN) that the suit was improperly commenced and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it and subsequently dismissed it in its entirety.

  • 2023: Court dismisses suit against Mrs Uduaghan

    2023: Court dismisses suit against Mrs Uduaghan

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday dismissed a suit challenging the candidature of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Natasha had on May 25, won the party’s primary election monitored by INEC, as PDP Senatorial Candidate for Kogi Central District for the 2023 general elections.

    The poll was, however, challenged by Adamu Atta before the Federal High Court.

    But Presiding Judge, Justice Peter Mallong in his judgment, dismissed the suit on the ground that it was grossly incompetent, incurably defective and strongly robbed the court of jurisdiction to entertain it.

    “Looking at the origin of this suit, it was first of all, improperly filed as noticed by the defence counsel, and therefore this Honourable Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain it.

    “Consequently, the suit is defective and is hereby subsequently dismissed in its entirety, ” the Judge declared.

    Atta, who also contested the PDP primary, had in his Originating Summons, alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan did not win the primary election for Kogi Central Senatorial District and therefore her victory  should be nullified.

    He had prayed the court to nullify Uduagha’s emergence as PDP Candidate in the May 25 primary election, claiming it was flawed and not validly conducted as required by law.

    But Natasha, in her Preliminary Objection, through her Counsel, MrJohnson Usman (SAN), objected to the hearing of the suit on the ground that it was wrongly filed through Originating Summons.

    “Filing such a suit through originating summon is not endorsed as required by law and so this Honourable Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain it.

    “According to section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, the originating summon is incurably defective and incompetent, having not been endorsed in line with provisions of the law.

    “Besides the incompetence of the originating summons, the primary election conducted on May 25, was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and she validly won.

    “My Lord, It’s based on these facts that we urge your Lordship to dismiss this suit for lack of competence, having improperly commenced and denied this Court the jurisdiction to entertain it, ” she prayed.

    In his judgment, Justice Mallong agreed with the submission of the defendant that the suit was improperly filed and that the Court lacked jurisdiction to hear it.

    He dismissed the suit in its entirety.

  • BREAKING: Mrs Uduaghan wins PDP ticket for Kogi Central

    Barr Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Mrs) has been declared the winner of the primary election conducted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Kogi Central Senatorial District.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Barr Akpoti-Uduaghan is the wife of Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, cousin to former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan.

    Mrs Uduaghan polled a total of 159 delegate votes to defeat her rival in the contest, Alh. Mahmood Atta, who polled a total of 13 delegate votes.

    She had contested the governorship election of Kogi State on 16 November 2019 as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Earlier in 2019, Natasha ran for the post of Kogi Central Senatorial District under SDP as well.

    However, in March 2022 after failing twice in the SDP, she defected to the PDP where she has now won the PDP ticket to contest once again in the 2023 General Elections.