Accusations and reactions on Akpabio vs Natasha

The rift between the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has escalated, with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment and political victimization.

Allegations Against Akpabio

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio made unwelcome advances toward her and later obstructed her legislative work after she rejected him. Speaking in an interview with Arise Television, she alleged that the Senate President deliberately blocked her motions from being heard, particularly her motion to investigate corruption at the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

She recounted an incident on December 8, 2023, when she and her husband attended Akpabio’s birthday celebration in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. During a tour of Akpabio’s residence, she alleged he held her hand and made an unsettling remark:

“Now that you’re a senator, I will create time for us to spend quality moments here. You will enjoy it.”

Feeling uncomfortable, she pulled away as her husband approached. Later, she confided in her husband, who advised her against visiting the Senate President’s residence alone.

Akpoti-Uduaghan further claimed that after rejecting Akpabio’s advances, she faced political obstruction, including deliberate delays in allowing her motions on the Senate floor. She alleged that Akpabio once told her:

“Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding Officer of the Senate. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.”

She dismissed the statement and left his office. Her motion was only eventually heard when the Deputy Senate President presided in Akpabio’s absence.

Dispute Over Senate Seating Arrangement

The controversy intensified last week when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her Senate seat. Upon arriving at the chamber, she found her nameplate removed and her seat reassigned.

She viewed the move as an attempt to sideline her, asserting that it was part of a broader pattern of harassment against women in positions of power who refuse to comply with certain expectations.

She stated, “Some senators warned me that the seat reassignment was a trap. I invoked Order 10, which allows senators to raise concerns about violations of their rights. However, the Senate President refused to let me speak.”

The Senate later referred her case to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions for investigation, with the committee given two weeks to present its findings.

Midnight Phone Call Allegation

Akpoti-Uduaghan also claimed that on July 23, 2024, at 12:14 AM, she received a midnight phone call from Senate Leader Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, during which she overheard Akpabio’s voice in the background.

According to her, Opeyemi told her: “If the Senate President goes down, I will go down too.”

She woke her husband and asked if this was a threat, stating that security agencies could extract their conversations if needed. She alleged that Akpabio later called her directly, referring to her as “Princess of the Senate” and expressing anger over public backlash against him.

Akpabio’s Wife Responds

Meanwhile, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, has dismissed the allegations as false and malicious. Speaking to journalists, she described her husband as a disciplined and respectful man, noting that he has a long history of supporting women’s inclusion in government.

She maintained that she was present on December 8, 2023, at the family residence in Uyo and insisted that no such incident occurred.

“Our families have enjoyed a cordial relationship long before Senator Natasha’s marriage. These allegations are entirely false,” she said.

Mrs. Akpabio vowed to seek legal redress over the matter, urging women to refrain from making baseless accusations.

With accusations and denials dominating the discourse, the Senate Committee on Ethics will now investigate the matter, while public and political scrutiny continues to grow over the unfolding controversy.