Former Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has stated that the controversy over seat allocation between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio should not be framed as a gender issue. He made this remark during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Shaibu, who previously represented the Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and served as a two-term member of the Edo State House of Assembly, emphasized that seats and offices in the National Assembly are privileges rather than rights. He noted that lawmakers must lobby for desirable office spaces and seating arrangements rather than expect automatic allocations.
“There are rules guiding the House. When I was in the National Assembly, it was the prerogative of the leadership to allocate offices and seats. In the House, there is what is called lobbying; you lobby for everything,” Shaibu explained.
He further elaborated on his own experience, stating, “When I came to Abuja, I quickly lobbied to get the office space and seat I wanted. Some first-time lawmakers may not realize that lobbying is essential in these matters. The rules of the House are clear, and they apply to all members, regardless of gender.”
Shaibu’s comments come in response to the ongoing dispute involving Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, who rejected her assigned seat in the red chamber on February 20, 2025, and openly challenged Akpabio’s decision. The senator accused the Senate President of harassment and subsequently filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against him. In response, the Senate leadership referred her to the disciplinary committee for further action.
This latest incident follows a previous controversy in July 2024, when Akpabio publicly apologized to Akpoti-Uduaghan over a nightclub-related remark he had made about her.
Shaibu concluded by reiterating that the matter should be resolved in accordance with established parliamentary procedures rather than being politicized as a gender issue.
