Senate Drama Unfolds as Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Accuses Akpabio of Harassment Amid Committee Reshuffle Dispute

A fresh controversy has erupted in the Nigerian Senate as Peter Nwaebonyi, Deputy Chief Whip and Senator representing Ebonyi North, has alleged that his colleague, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, threatened to disgrace Senate President Godswill Akpabio before publicly accusing him of sexual harassment.

The dramatic claims surfaced during Nwaebonyi’s appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program, on Thursday. His statements come in the wake of an explosive accusation made by Akpoti-Uduaghan on February 28, in which she alleged that Akpabio had made inappropriate advances towards her both in his office and at his residence in Akwa Ibom.

The controversy was preceded by a heated altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio on February 20 over seating arrangements in the Senate chamber. The Kogi Central senator openly defied the Senate President by rejecting her assigned seat, repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled. The altercation disrupted proceedings, prompting the Senate to refer Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review.

Senator Nwaebonyi claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment stem from dissatisfaction over a recent committee reshuffle. According to him, the Kogi senator had been removed as chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content and reassigned to the Committee on Diaspora Affairs, a change she allegedly opposed.

“Senator Natasha was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, a position she felt comfortable with,” Nwaebonyi said. “However, in the Senate, from time to time, committee leaderships are changed; they are reshuffled — her committee was affected just like every other chairman.”

Nwaebonyi further alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to regain her chairmanship by issuing an ultimatum to Akpabio through another senator. He claimed that a day before Akpoti-Uduaghan’s televised accusations, she called Senator Sani Musa of Niger State, demanding that she be reinstated as chair of the Local Content Committee or she would “disgrace” Akpabio.

“Senator Sani Musa then called the Senate President and said, ‘Look at the threat from this lady,’” Nwaebonyi recounted. “The Senate President responded, ‘Well, let her do what she wants to do. I am doing my job as a presiding officer. The reshuffling of committee members is normal.’”

The unfolding drama took another turn on Wednesday when the Senate committee reviewing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment claims dismissed her petition against Akpabio. The panel ruled that her petition was “dead on arrival” due to procedural flaws. According to the committee’s chairman, Neda Imaseun, Akpoti-Uduaghan personally signed the petition instead of securing an endorsement from another party, rendering it invalid.

Additionally, the panel noted that the issues raised in her petition were already before a court, making them sub judice and beyond the Senate’s jurisdiction.

Despite this setback, Akpoti-Uduaghan remained undeterred. During Thursday’s plenary session, she resubmitted a fresh petition, this time signed by her constituents. The Senate accepted the new petition, setting the stage for what promises to be further political and legal battles.