By Eve Omayrs
The Nigerian Senate is set for a dramatic confrontation as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan prepare to testify before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions (SCEPPP) over allegations of sexual harassment.
This follows confirmation by Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who revealed that all involved parties, including Akpabio, will appear before the committee, with testimonies from other senators present during the alleged incident.
The controversy erupted after Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances toward her during a visit to his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in December 2023. She claimed that Akpabio held her hand, led her around his house, and acted inappropriately—even in the presence of her husband.
Akpabio has firmly denied the allegations, calling them false and politically motivated. “At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” he stated.
The controversy intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate shortly after submitting her petition against Akpabio. The Senate leadership justified her suspension by citing violations of Senate rules, but critics saw it as an attempt to silence her.
Refusing to back down, Akpoti-Uduaghan took her case beyond Nigeria, addressing the Women in Parliament session at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting at the United Nations in New York.
“I was suspended illegally because I submitted a petition for sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio,” she told the international gathering. She further described her suspension as part of a broader pattern of gender exclusion in Nigerian politics, stating, “My suspension is not just about me. It’s about the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Chief Whip Nwebonyi dismissed the allegations, calling them a distraction. “She knows quite well that what she is saying is to divert attention, but we are not disturbed because we know the truth,” he asserted.
Nwebonyi further insisted that there was no credible evidence against Akpabio. “In criminal prosecution, there is what we call prima facie evidence—evidence on the surface. If there is no prima facie evidence, then there is no case,” he argued. He also revealed that multiple senators who were present at the time of the alleged incident would testify. “I am one of the star witnesses, and I will come and tell the world what I saw,” he declared.
With tensions running high and public opinion divided, the upcoming Senate hearing promises to be a pivotal moment in Nigerian politics. The case has not only put the spotlight on Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan but has also reignited discussions on gender equity, political accountability, and justice within Nigeria’s legislative system.
As the Senate Committee prepares to hear both sides, Nigerians and the international community will be watching closely to see whether this case leads to genuine accountability or becomes another unresolved political controversy.