Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has insisted that her suspension from the Senate was a direct retaliation for her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a recent interview with Sky News, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio had implied she needed to “please him” to fully enjoy her rights as a senator. She described her six-month suspension as a deliberate attempt to silence her after she formally accused him of misconduct.
“I officially made an allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on March 5, 2025. The very next day, I was suspended for six months. I see my suspension as unjust and illegal—clearly a tactic to shut me down,” she stated.
Although the Senate cited “gross misconduct” as the reason for her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged this claim, questioning what exactly constituted such misconduct.
“They claim I was suspended for gross misconduct. But can they specify what act warranted such a severe penalty, imposed just a day after I submitted my petition? The truth is, I was suspended because of that petition, not for any misconduct,” she asserted.
She further accused the Senate of applying double standards, arguing that male senators had engaged in far worse behavior without facing similar consequences.
“In that chamber, I have witnessed male senators physically fight, throw objects, and hurl insults at each other. None of them were suspended. But I, a woman, was suspended simply for refusing to move my seat without proper notification or justification,” she argued.
Akpoti-Uduaghan went on to claim that she had faced over a year of sexual harassment from Akpabio, which escalated into a pattern of intimidation after she rejected his advances. She alleged that her legislative motions were repeatedly blocked, and even her husband’s attempts to mediate were ignored.
“For over a year, I endured harassment from the Senate President. When I refused to comply with his demands, he resorted to denying me my privileges as a senator. My attempts to raise motions and push important bills were constantly obstructed. Even my husband, who is friends with Akpabio, approached him to advocate for my constituency’s needs, but nothing changed.
“Whenever I sought his support, he would dismiss me, saying, ‘I am the chief presiding officer of the National Assembly. If you want privileges, you must please me.’ This happened multiple times. Because I refused, he turned against me.
“So tell me, how else was I supposed to make my voice heard?” she concluded.
