Senator Ireti Kingibe Questions Special Treatment for Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Amidst Senate Tensions
Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), suggested that fellow female lawmaker Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has received more privileges than any other woman in the National Assembly.
Kingibe made these remarks on Friday during an appearance on Arise News, weighing in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The Kogi Central senator had previously accused Akpabio of orchestrating a campaign against her after she rejected his alleged sexual advances—a claim that has further fueled the tensions in the upper legislative chamber.
The conflict reached a boiling point on February 20, when Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Akpabio on the Senate floor over a sudden change in her seating arrangement. However, Kingibe dismissed the dispute as unnecessary, criticizing her colleague for not adhering to Senate protocols.
Kingibe refrained from directly criticizing Akpoti-Uduaghan but subtly pointed out that other lawmakers, including both men and women, had also been subjected to seating relocations without protest.
“Silence is golden, especially when one of us is not following the rules,” Kingibe remarked. “As women, we did not want to come out publicly to say anything negative about her; we were hoping all of this would blow over, as many things do.”
She further noted that while the Senate has historically not been particularly gender-friendly, improvements have been made, and Akpabio has shown a willingness to address concerns when they arise.
Kingibe also argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan has received more preferential treatment than any of the other three female senators currently in the National Assembly.
“The truth is, Senator Natasha has gotten the most privileges among all four of us. The seat I sit on now has been moved four times,” she stated.
She emphasized that women entering the Senate must adhere to its established rules and procedures.
When asked about Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, Kingibe distanced herself from the claims, stating that she is not personally close to the Senate President.
“I collected some documents for Senator Natasha, informed her, and went to her house. She told me she was supposed to discuss something with Akpabio, but he said to meet him at a hotel,” Kingibe recalled.
