Abuja, NIGERIA — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative for Kogi Central, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her, claiming that the challenges she has faced in the Senate began after she rejected these overtures.
In an emotional interview with Arise TV on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan compared her experience to that of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing sexual demands. She said, “Mine is the case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.” This statement was in reference to her strained relationship with Akpabio, which she says started after the alleged advances.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the alleged incident occurred in December 2023 during a visit to Akpabio’s residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. She and her husband attended Akpabio’s birthday celebration, and it was after this visit that the senator claimed her troubles began in the Senate. She said, “It all started on December 8, 2023, a day before his birthday and mine — we are birthday mates. We were all in Akwa Ibom for his big fanfare in the stadium. Myself, my husband, and a few of his close friends.”
At first, they visited Akpabio’s house in Ikot-Ekpene before moving to his residence in Uyo around 8 p.m. During the visit, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio held her hand and began showing her around the house, despite her husband walking behind them. She recalled, “he held my hands and said he wanted to show me around his house. My husband was walking behind us, just the three of us. We were walking around from room to room. He showed me the beautiful interior.”
As the tour progressed, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she began to notice that Akpabio was hastening his pace, still holding her hand, while her husband was preoccupied with his phone. She said, “he hastened his pace while still holding my hands, and my husband was behind on his phone, trying to catch up. We got to a particular sitting room, and he asked, ‘Do you like my house?’ I said, ‘Of course, sir.’”
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio then made a comment that unsettled her, saying, “Now that you are a senator, I’m going to create time for us to come and spend quality time here. You will enjoy it.” This remark, she claimed, led her to pull away from him, adding, “I just pulled away… I don’t understand what he meant.”
At this point, her husband, who had been following them, reportedly asked her what Akpabio had said. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan chose not to share the conversation with her husband at that moment. She later said, “my husband asked me what he said, but I didn’t tell him at the time. Later, my husband instructed me not to travel out of the country alone or visit Akpabio’s guest house again.”
In the months that followed, Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that Akpabio continued to make inappropriate comments. In a later meeting with Akpabio in his office, the senator alleges that Akpabio remarked, “you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me.” This statement, according to the senator, was made after she confronted him over her motions being repeatedly sidelined in the Senate.
The strained relationship between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio came to a head on February 20, during a heated exchange on the floor of the Senate. Akpoti-Uduaghan was informed that her seat had been reassigned, a move she refused to comply with, leading to a verbal clash with the Senate President. Akpoti-Uduaghan stated, “the seat change was the straw that broke the camel’s back. This was after everything I had endured and the attempts to silence me.”
The confrontation between the two lawmakers escalated publicly, drawing attention to the power dynamics within Nigeria’s highest legislative chamber. The altercation sparked concerns about gender relations, the treatment of women in politics, and the unchecked power wielded by political figures in the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations have sparked widespread public outrage and condemnation. Many Nigerians have called for a thorough investigation into her claims and have demanded an end to the culture of impunity and harassment within Nigerian politics. Advocacy groups, in particular, have rallied behind the senator, calling for justice and accountability for women in politics who have faced similar mistreatment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has received both support and criticism since making the allegations. In her interview, she emphasized her decision to speak out, stating, “I am speaking my truth, and I will not be silenced. The culture of silence is what allows these things to continue. I’m speaking for all the women who are suffering in silence in this system.”
The senator’s accusations have thrust her into the national spotlight, with many applauding her bravery for coming forward with such serious allegations. Some, however, have raised questions about the timing of her claims and the political implications of her accusations.
While some advocate for swift action and a full investigation, others have urged caution, asking for further evidence to support Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims. As the public debate intensifies, the coming days are expected to see increased scrutiny of the issues of political accountability, gender equality, and transparency within the Nigerian Senate.
Efforts to reach Eseme Eyiboh, the special adviser on media and public affairs to Akpabio, for a response to the allegations were unsuccessful. Eyiboh did not return messages or phone calls.
On February 25, the Senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review over the dispute regarding the seating arrangements. The outcome of this review could significantly impact the ongoing debate about political integrity and the treatment of women in Nigerian politics.
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