The sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio took a new twist on Saturday when High Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, the husband of Kogi lawmaker Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, confirmed his awareness of the claims made by his wife. Uduaghan stated that he had previously discussed the matter with Akpabio and believed it had been resolved, but his wife later expressed that the alleged harassment had not stopped. Uduaghan urged Akpabio to treat his wife with the respect and dignity she deserves.
The feud between Akpabio and Natasha intensified last week after the relocation of Natasha’s seat in the Senate without her consent, which caused a delay in the plenary. Tensions escalated further when Akpabio instructed security personnel to remove her from the chamber, prompting intervention from other lawmakers.
On Friday, Natasha made the situation even more serious during an appearance on Arise Television’s Breakfast Show, where she accused Akpabio of subjecting her to unnecessary hardship after she rejected his sexual advances.
Although the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee is expected to release its report next week, the dispute between the two parties continues, with both Akpabio’s wife, Unoma, and Natasha turning to the courts for justice.
In a statement released on Saturday, High Chief Uduaghan expressed that he had hoped to stay out of the conflict, but recent developments had compelled him to speak out. He emphasized that Natasha was duly elected by her people and had always remained truthful. He explained that after Natasha confided in him about her interactions with Akpabio, he met with the Senate President and urged him to treat his wife with respect. However, despite the understanding reached, Natasha continued to express concerns about ongoing harassment.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki also weighed in on the issue, calling for a transparent investigation to uphold the integrity of the Senate. Saraki stressed the importance of due process and ensuring that any wrongdoings are addressed properly, without discrimination against any party involved.
Meanwhile, women’s groups from Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta region staged protests, defending Akpabio and condemning Natasha’s accusations as unfounded. The protesters expressed their support for Akpabio, calling for an end to what they saw as an attempt to discredit him.
Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, also commented, urging a Senate investigation into the allegations and distancing himself from the dispute, after Natasha had previously accused him of sexual harassment without evidence.
In response, Natasha issued a letter through her lawyer to Akpabio’s wife, advising her to refrain from getting involved in the matter. Natasha insisted that she had substantial evidence to support her claims and urged that the Senate President handle the defense himself.
This is not the first time Akpabio has faced such accusations. In 2020, former acting NDDC MD Joy Nunieh also accused him of sexual harassment. Akpabio dismissed those claims, stating that Nunieh had a temperament issue.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Ojo Women Action for Political Actualisation have called for an investigation into the matter, with NANS urging senators to seek peace to prevent the issue from escalating further.
