A tense atmosphere gripped the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) on Thursday, February 13, 2026, when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) openly protested her exclusion from the committee’s activities and deliberations.
The confrontation occurred during a scheduled meeting of the committee, where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan a vocal representative from the North Central zone accused the leadership of deliberately sidelining her despite her constituency falling squarely within the zone the NCDC is mandated to serve.
According to eyewitnesses and video clips that have since circulated online, the senator stormed into the meeting venue and demanded to know why she was not formally notified, invited or included in the committee’s work, describing the omission as “a deliberate act of marginalisation and political vendetta.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was heard saying: “I represent Kogi Central part of the North Central zone this commission was created for. How can you hold meetings, take decisions and exclude me? This is not about party lines; it is about justice, fairness and the mandate I carry from my people. I will not sit back while my zone is discussed without my voice.”
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The outburst reportedly disrupted proceedings for several minutes, with some committee members attempting to calm the situation while others expressed frustration over the interruption. The committee chairman eventually adjourned the session to allow tempers to cool.
Her exclusion from the NCDC committee despite representing one of the six North Central states (Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau + FCT) has been interpreted by her supporters as politically motivated.
The North Central Development Commission was established by law in 2024 to drive infrastructure, economic development and security coordination in the six North Central states and the FCT.
This is a developing story.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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