Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday morning fired teargas to prevent protesters, suspected to be supporters of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from accessing the National Assembly Complex.
The protesters had gathered at the gate as early as 8am, ahead of the resumption of plenary.
However, the police swiftly moved in, firing teargas canisters to disperse the demonstrators.
The crowd has since relocated to the Unity Fountain to continue their protest.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, has been embroiled in a heated clash with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements in the Senate.
The dispute, which occurred on February 20, led to Akpoti-Uduaghan being referred to the Senate’s disciplinary panel.
In a dramatic twist, the senator filed a N100billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio.
Last Friday, she publicly accused Akpabio of punishing and maligning her because she refused his alleged sexual advances.
SaharaReporters also gathered that a similar protest is currently taking place in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituency in Kogi State.
The demonstration, organized by the Kogi Central People’s Alliance (KOCEPA), saw protesters carrying placards demanding an end to the alleged sexual harassment and intimidation by the Senate President.
Some of the placards read: “Senator Akpabio, stop the intimidation and harassment of Dist. Sen. Natasha,” and “A Senate In Shackles: Breaking Free From Sen. Akpabio’s Grip On Our Democracy. Enough Of Sen. Akpabio.”
An eyewitness told SaharaReporters that unlike the Abuja protest, the demonstration in Kogi Central has not been disrupted by the police.
The controversy surrounding Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan has sparked national outrage, with many Nigerians demanding accountability and justice.
The ongoing protests underscore growing concerns over the abuse of power and gender-based harassment within the country’s political sphere.
Source: SaharaReporters