Activist and Kogi-born Senator representing Kogi Central at the Nigerian Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused the Senate President of making sexual advances at her, leading to his harassment of her at the Senate Chambers.
The lawyer, social entrepreneur, and politician who became the first elected female senator from Kogi State, gained national prominence through her activism, particularly in 2018 when she presented an investigative report to the National Assembly exposing corruption and mismanagement at the Ajaokuta Steel Mill. It was her advocacy that laid the groundwork for her political career, which included unsuccessful bids for senator and governor in 2019 before her eventual triumph in 2023.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who is no newcomer to controversy has made fresh claims against Senate President Akpabio.
In an interview with Arise TV, Senator Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan responded to allegations leveled against her on misappropriation of funds and the ongoing controversies between her and Senator Godswill Akpabio, claiming that the Senate President made several sexual advances towards her which she consistently declined despite his persistence.
During the interview she claimed that during a trip to Akwa Ibom for the Senate President’s birthday, Akpabio took her hand to show her around his house and said “Do you like my house?” to which she replied “yes” and he responded “Now that you are a senator I’ll make space so we can spend quality time together”
These inciting comments took the Senator by surprise but she stated that she moved past it though it remained an unresolved matter. She also revealed that after this incident, bills and motions that she proposed took a longer period of time to be passed and she confronted the Senate President about this to which he replied “Natasha, I’m the chief presiding officer of the senate, you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.” She stated that other members of the senate can attest to these comments while some have corroborated her claims that the Senate President has been known to make such comments towards females in the Senate.
These past issues with the Senate President have been described as the reason behind her recent argy-bargy with the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
This latest conflict began when Senate President Godswill Akpabio relocated Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat after the session resumed–according to the former Governor, the reallocation was as a result of recent decampees in the Senate. Howeverthe lawmaker was reluctant to move, even after being approached by Chief Whip Senator Mohammed Ali Monguno. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was informed that her seating position was improper, to which she responded, “Why was my seat moved without my consent?”
Unfortunately, no response was given, and the session continued. However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was not permitted to speak due to her seating position. She did not take this dismissal lightly, and the situation escalated when she confronted the Senate President, accusing him of shutting her down and preventing her from proposing bills. The tension soon boiled over, and the Kogi-born Senator was escorted out by security due to disorderly conduct.
But this is not the first time Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan have clashed in the Senate. During a session in 2024,Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke out of turn and was reprimanded by the Senate President. Akpabio made derogatory remarks, suggesting that the senator should not speak as if she were in a “nightclub.” These comments did not sit well with Akpoti-Uduaghan and members of women’s groups. Fortunately, the Senate President later apologized for his remarks, though it appears that thelingering tension between the two never quenched.
Unsurprisingly, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is not letting this incident go without a fight and has filed a lawsuit against Godswill Akpabio. In her suit, she accuses the Senate President and Mfon Patrick, a Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, of spreading defamatory comments about her on social media.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Victor Giwa, the post titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” mocked her, belittling her dignity by making derogatory comments about her appearance, including references to “pancaking her face” and wearing “transparent outfits to the chambers.”
The lawyer stated: “A DECLARATION that the words, ‘It is bottled anger by the Kogi lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers,’ used and written by the third defendant at the prompting of the first and second defendants, are defamatory and intended to cause public opprobrium and disaffection toward the claimant.”
“AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the defendants, whether acting by themselves or through their agents, privies, assigns, or associates, from further publishing or causing to be published the said defamatory words or any similar publications about the claimant on social media or in any other manner capable of defaming her,” she stated.
Additionally, Akpoti-Uduaghan is demanding N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs: “An order for the payment of the sum of N100,000,000,000 as general damages. An order for the payment of the sum of N300,000,000 as the cost of action.”
In a phone interview with Ahmad Isah, also known as the Ordinary President of the Berekete Family radio show, Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that she might face suspension due to the altercation in the Senate.
“I know that right now, they are planning my suspension. If I am suspended, fine. It will not stop me from doing my work. I have some projects in line. I will keep serving my people and continue being a voice, as well as a law-abiding citizen,” she said during the interview.
She also shared some of the challenges she has faced as a senator, mentioning an incident where she was nominated to attend a United Nations event, only for her name to be struck off the list. “They didn’t want to promote me in any international activity. So, every event I have attended since last year has been self-sponsored. If I find an international event important for my constituents and Nigerian women, I fund my trips myself. I just don’t talk about it. But I have been going through a lot,” she recounted.
Akpoti-Uduaghan described the seat reassignment as a power move to silence her and prevent her from participating in the session. She remains determined to stand firm and fight for her rights. “You can’t just push me around like this is a classroom. There are 109 Senators—why me? Why was I the only one moved? Why me?” she protested.
Akpoti-Uduaghan believes the recent incident is another deliberate attempt to undermine her authority, while Senate President Akpabio disagrees. Akpabio stated: “I think part of the problem is when people come from court… court-declared senators; they missed the orientation.” He added that the National Assembly’s management should ensure new senators, particularly those who join mid-term, receive training on the legislative process. He recalled that on the day Akpoti-Uduaghan was sworn in, she immediately raised her hand to speak, which surprised him. He expressed concerns that while it’s fine to be energetic, it becomes problematic when a senator doesn’t understand the rules and procedures.
Akpabio criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behavior as unsavory and unprofessional for a Senate member. As a result, he has referred the matter to the Board of Ethics for disciplinary action during plenary.
At this time, it is unclear what the future holds for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Is this a case of a misunderstanding, or a calculated attempt to provoke the senator? Regardless of the reasons behind it, one thing is clear—she will not back down without a fight.
