Akpabio

Supporters of Senate President Godswill Akpabio took to the streets of Abuja on Tuesday to protest against allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him.

The protest follows the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused Akpabio of sexual misconduct.

Last week, the Nigerian Senate barred Akpoti-Uduaghan from office for six months, cutting off her allowances and security.

On Wednesday, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed her petition, stating that it violated procedural rules. Her suspension was linked to an earlier dispute over a change in her seating arrangement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, first made the allegation in a television interview on February 28, claiming Akpabio made unwanted sexual advances toward her in 2023.

Akpoti-Uduaghan represents the Kogi Central senatorial district.

Afe Annang, a prominent socio-cultural organization in Annang Nation, Akwa Ibom State, has expressed dissatisfaction with the mere suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate.

The group has called for her recall or replacement by her senatorial district, Kogi Central.

Speaking at a press conference held at the organization’s secretariat in Abak Local Government Area on Thursday evening, the leader of Atai Afe Annang, His Majesty Obong Blaise Awakama, asserted that the senator’s conduct was unacceptable.

“We are not satisfied with only the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. We think her constituency should recall her. She should be given proper advice and orientation or replaced by another person.

“I don’t think that type of conduct is what any Nigerian, let alone a woman, should carry to the Senate,” Obong Awakama stated.

The press conference was convened in response to the controversy surrounding the suspension, which has garnered significant media attention.

Obong Awakama warned against any political plot aimed at undermining Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a respected son of Annang Nation.

“The issues at stake, as we gather from the mass media, include the routine change of seating allocation in the Senate affecting Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“She perceives this as offensive and discriminatory, leading her to further allege sexual harassment by the distinguished Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

“How did an ordinary routine change of seating arrangement, arising from the incidence of senators cross-carpeting and necessitating such changes, become an issue of sexual discrimination and harassment?” he questioned.

Reaffirming their support for Akpabio, Awakama stated that every senator represents a constituency, and Akpabio represents both the Annang Nation in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and the entire country as Senate President.

“No female senator should be used as a front to defame him. If there is an organized political plot to ease him out of office, we shall not sit idly by and watch adversaries succeed,” he declared.

The wife of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Unoma, has dismissed claims of sexual harassment against her husband by Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti.

Unoma said Natasha was maligning her husband and “creating content for personal gains”.

Earlier, the lawmaker had accused Akpabio of making sexual advances at her.

Narrating her ordeals, the light skinned lawmaker recalled how the Senate President made sexual advances at her in the presence of her husband.

The Kogi born senator made the allegation on Friday while fielding questions on Arise Television Morning Show programme.

Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio blocked her motions from being heard on the floor of the red chamber because she rejected his advances

However, Unoma while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, dismissed Natasha’s claims.

The wife of the Senate President described her husband as a disciplined and jovial person who is often misinterpreted.

A former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central at the Nigerian Senate has called for caution in the debacle between the Senate President and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Describing the aftermath of the incident perceived to have started from a seating arrangement order in the Red Chamber as unfortunate, Shehu Sani called for caution from all parties involved in the matter.

He said, “It’s unfortunate,that the senate Issue was simply about seat and now about bed.

“Need for caution and restraint,” Sani wrote on X.

Recall that a brawl had ensued between Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s Senate President and Akpoti-Uduaghan over seating arrangement last week.

However, making an appearance on Arise Television on Friday, the Kogi lawmaker accused the Senate President of making sexual advances towards her.

She added that her problem in the Senate – which allegedly involved harassment and stepping down some of her contributions and proposed bills – stems from refusing the advances Akpabio made towards her.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, has claimed her troubles in the Senate started after she rejected Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s sexual advances.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan compared her experience to that of a student being unfairly punished by a lecturer for refusing to give in to inappropriate demands.

“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him,” she said.

The senator also addressed the controversy surrounding her sitting arrangement in the chamber. She acknowledged that Order 10 of the Senate Rules states that senators must speak from their assigned seats. However, she argued that when it comes to issues of privilege, lawmakers are allowed to speak from anywhere in the chamber.

On why other female senators have not publicly supported her, Akpoti-Uduaghan suggested they had their own reasons for staying silent. However, she revealed that Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory, had privately called her—not to offer support, but to criticize her for filing a defamation lawsuit against Akpabio.

The Kogi senator also responded to Akpabio’s previous nightclub comments, in which he had jokingly referred to the Senate as a nightclub. She dismissed claims that it was a slip of the tongue, alleging instead that the Senate President had once personally suggested organizing a private party in a nightclub setting for them to “have fun.”

Furthermore, Akpoti-Uduaghan denied allegations of corruption raised in a petition by a northern youth group, which was submitted to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, Public Petitions, and Code of Conduct. She alleged that the petition was orchestrated by individuals who wanted her to divert committee funds for their benefit.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, citing damaging statements allegedly made against her.

The lawsuit, filed on February 25, 2025, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, also lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as defendants.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal action follows a dispute over her reassigned Senate seat after a reshuffle caused by opposition members defecting to the majority wing.

The controversy escalated after a Facebook post, allegedly made at Akpabio’s behest, mocked her legislative contributions.

The post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, reportedly included a statement suggesting that the senator “thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”

Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, described the statement as defamatory, arguing that it was meant to ridicule and tarnish her reputation.

Among her demands, Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking a public declaration that the statement was defamatory, a court injunction preventing further defamatory remarks, and N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously alleged plots to suspend her from the National Assembly by Akpabio.