According to a report by Sahara Reporters, significant new developments have emerged concerning a formal complaint lodged with the Nigerian Senate by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, targeting the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. In her detailed petition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has leveled serious allegations against Akpabio, accusing him of multiple instances of sexual harassment, exploiting his authoritative position for personal gain, and intentionally interfering with her ability to carry out her legislative duties effectively.
The petition, which was officially submitted on March 4, 2025, was presented to the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In her account, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan recounts a specific incident that allegedly took place on December 8, 2023, during a visit to Akpabio’s private residence in Akwa Ibom. She claims that, despite the presence of her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, Akpabio made unwelcome and inappropriate advances toward her. The senator further elaborates that Akpabio not only made sexually suggestive remarks but also explicitly proposed that she “spend quality time” with him, a request she describes as deeply unsettling and unprofessional. These allegations, if proven true, could have far-reaching implications for Akpabio’s political career and the integrity of the Nigerian Senate.
Furthermore, the petition outlines another alleged incident in May 2024, when Akpabio reportedly invited Akpoti-Uduaghan to his Abuja residence under the pretense of discussing legislative matters. During their conversation, she claims he stated, “You know I am the Senate President; I will give you whatever you want, all you have to do is make me happy.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan has alleged that after she declined to acquiesce to what she describes as inappropriate advances from Akpabio, she experienced significant professional setbacks. She claims that her efforts to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company were systematically undermined, as her motion to address the issue was repeatedly excluded from the Senate’s Order Paper. This exclusion, she argues, effectively blocked any opportunity for the motion to be discussed or debated within the legislative body.
Furthermore, the petition details a disturbing incident that allegedly took place on the Senate floor, during which Akpabio reportedly referred to Akpoti-Uduaghan as a “nightclub girl.” While Akpabio later issued an apology for the remark, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that this was not an isolated incident but rather part of a sustained campaign of harassment, intimidation, and retaliation against her. She asserts that such behavior was intended to undermine her credibility and deter her from pursuing her legislative agenda.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also accuses Akpabio of orchestrating her removal from the position of Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content. She contends that this decision was politically driven and directly tied to her advocacy for the development of mini-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in Ajaokuta. According to her, Akpabio sought to derail these initiatives in favor of projects based in the Niger Delta region, thereby prioritizing regional interests over national development goals.
In her formal petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan calls on the Senate Committee to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into her allegations against the Senate President. She also highlights previous accusations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, particularly those brought forward in 2020 by Dr. Joi Nunieh, the former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Akpoti-Uduaghan argues that these past allegations lend credibility to her claims and underscore a pattern of misconduct that warrants urgent scrutiny.
Additionally, the senator recounts a heated confrontation that allegedly occurred during a Senate plenary session on February 20, 2025. She claims that Akpabio, in what she describes as an act of deliberate malice, prevented her from responding to a point of order raised against her. Following this, she alleges that Akpabio ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to forcibly remove her from the Senate chamber and subsequently imposed a suspension on her. Akpoti-Uduaghan views this incident as emblematic of the broader challenges she has faced in her efforts to fulfill her legislative duties, citing it as evidence of the systemic obstacles and personal vendettas she has encountered.
