Drama in Senate as Senators Refused to Second a Salient Motion Raised by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Drama in Senate as Senators Refused to Second a Salient Motion Raised by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
There was an awkward moment in the Senate on Tuesday when lawmakers initially refused to second a motion by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan calling for the repatriation of Nigerian women allegedly abused in Libyan prisons.
The motion, presented during deliberations on the plight of Nigerian migrants in Libya, sought Senate intervention to rescue women said to be suffering severe human rights violations.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that several Nigerian women were being sexually assaulted by prison officials and even forced to bear children while in detention. She urged the Senate to direct the Nigerian Immigration Service to collaborate with Libyan authorities for their safe return.
However, after she presented her motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio asked for a seconder—a standard parliamentary procedure—but none of the senators, including the women in the chamber, responded. The silence that followed reportedly left the chamber tense and uneasy.
After several moments of hesitation, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele eventually rose to second the motion, allowing discussions to proceed.
Later reports suggests that the motion was later unanimously adopted with the Senate directing the federal government to enhance diplomatic efforts and collaborate with the International Organization for Migration for the women’s repatriation and rehabilitation.
The incident has since drawn public attention, with many questioning the lawmakers’ reluctance to support a motion aimed at protecting vulnerable Nigerian women abroad.
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𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐧 𝐀𝐤𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢-𝐔𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐲𝐚
There was mild drama in the Senate today (Tuesday) when lawmakers declined to second a motion… pic.twitter.com/rFHP9iBCOv
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) October 14, 2025
TAGSKogi CentralLibyaMotionNigerian womensenateSenate Leader Opeyemi BamideleSenate President God’swill AkpabioSenator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
