The Senator Representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has dropped a bombshell, alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio made unwelcome advances toward her and later hindered her legislative work after she rejected him.
Akpabio has since denied the allegations through his media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo.
Recall that a heated confrontation unfolded during Senate plenary session recently when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, leading to tense moments in the chamber.
The session took an unexpected turn when she arrived to find her seat reassigned, with her nameplate removed.
Outraged, she immediately raised her voice in protest, demanding an explanation for what she perceived as an unjustified move.
The Senate had since referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for investigations over alleged disorderly conduct
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been mandated to turn in its finding in two weeks.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Friday morning, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio deliberately blocked her motions from being heard in the Senate after she rejected his advances.
She recounted an incident on December 8, 2023, the eve of her birthday, when she and her husband traveled to Akwa Ibom State for Akpabio’s birthday celebration. According to her, while at the Senate President’s residence in Uyo, Akpabio led her on a tour of his home, holding her hand. During the tour, she alleged he made an unsettling remark:
“Now that you’re a senator, I will create time for us to spend quality moments here. You will enjoy it.”
Feeling uncomfortable, she pulled away as her husband approached. She later confided in him, and he advised her against visiting the Senate President’s residence alone.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further alleged that after rejecting Akpabio’s advances, she faced political obstruction. She claimed her motion to investigate corruption at Ajaokuta Steel Company was deliberately blocked multiple times.
She described a confrontation in Akpabio’s office over the motion, during which he allegedly said:
“Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding Officer of the Senate. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me, make me happy.”
Shocked, she dismissed the statement and left his office. Her motion was eventually heard only when the Deputy Senate President presided in Akpabio’s absence.
The senator also raised concerns about her seating arrangement in the Senate, stating that she was moved further back despite available seats closer to the Senate President. She suggested this was another attempt to sideline her.
She claimed these actions were part of a broader pattern of harassment and victimization against women in power who refuse to comply with certain expectations.
“The nightclub comment he made was not a slip of the tongue. He had repeatedly suggested ways we could ‘have fun’ when traveling, even implying that he could create a private party space. This was not a mistake—it was a reflection of his true thoughts.”
She also mentioned a midnight call on July 23, 2024, from Senate Leader Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, during which she allegedly overheard Akpabio in the background.
“The call came at 12:14 AM. Senator Opeyemi told me, ‘If the Senate President goes down, I will go down too.’ I immediately woke my husband and asked if this was a threat. I recognized Akpabio’s voice in the background. Moments later, my phone rang again. This time, it was Akpabio himself.
He addressed me as ‘Princess of the Senate’ and blamed me for the backlash he was facing. He then referenced a conversation with the Dein of Agbor, who warned him that he was one of the most disliked politicians in Nigeria. Akpabio expressed anger at being advised to leave Abuja to avoid protests.
Then he said, ‘Natasha, if anyone over the age of 20 confronts me during a protest, I will take that person down.’”*
She claimed Akpabio later tried to pacify her.
“After realizing my husband was present and had heard everything, he quickly changed his tone. He asked my husband to nominate someone for a political appointment from Delta State. I refused to be swayed and reminded him that security agencies could extract our conversations if necessary.”
She also alleged that Akpabio later apologized in the Senate chamber.
“He told me he would issue a public apology and expected me to accept it. Given the threats I had received the night before, I simply went along with the scripted apology.
I have shared my side of the story, and of course, the Senate President has the right to defend himself. However, the pattern is clear: I am being hindered in my legislative duties because I refused to comply with certain expectations.”*