‘Tame Your Third’ Leg’—Human Rights Advocate Calls Out Senate President Akpabio Over Recent Scandal With Sen. Natasha
By Onome Naomi
In recent times, a trend in the public space suggests Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s clash with colleague Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is borne out of sexual advances declined by the female lawmaker.
It should be recalled that her allegations came amid a recent confrontation in the Senate chamber. On Thursday, February 21st, 2025, Akpabio ordered sergeants-at-arms to remove Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the chamber after she resisted relocating to a new seat assigned to her following the defection of two opposition senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Citing Orders 24 and 6, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno asserted that it was within the Senate President’s authority to reassign seats and that a senator could only speak from their designated position. Akpoti-Uduaghan, insisting that her privileges had been breached, attempted to raise a point under Order 10, leading to a heated session in the chamber. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s inclination is tilted towards the fact that she has refused to succumb to the Senate president’s sexual advances, hence the victimization experienced.
However, Kingibe, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, admitted that the Senate is not gender-friendly, but the situation has improved, adding that women should follow the rules of the institution they chose to enter. Kingibe said, “This is about the rules of the Senate, so other women have been moved several times. On that day, I wasn’t there but gathered that other men were also moved.”
To this effect, human rights advocate Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, founder of Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation ‘AMPEF’ Voice of the Voiceless, is saying that the aforementioned issue has generated a lot of controversy with public opinions in support of and against both lawmakers, but it should be noted that the same Senate president, Akpabio, has a trail of records in the spotlight suggesting a sexual misdemeanor.
Iche cited an incident involving Sen. Akpabio and ex-NDDC MD Joy Nunieh. The lady in concern alleged that she was being harassed sexually, but Akpabio debunked the allegations as usual. This happened in July 2020, as Joy Nunieh, the former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), publicly accused Godswill Akpabio, then Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and current Senate President, of sexual harassment during a live television interview.
Iche noted that Nunieh claimed Akpabio attempted to harass her sexually at his guest house in Abuja, leading her to slap him in response. She stated, “I am the only woman that slapped Akpabio. He thought he could come up on me. He tried to harass me sexually.”Nunieh also alleged that Akpabio sought to involve her in corrupt practices, including inflating the NDDC budget and taking a blood oath of secrecy before confirming her as the substantive head of the NDDC.In response, Akpabio denied these allegations, describing them as “false, malicious, and libelous.”
Iche’s reviewed that Natasha and Akpabio’s fallout already had suspicions from public opinion even before the female lawmaker divulged these allegations to the public. People speculated on reasons Natasha’s confrontation towards her leader was without regard, with deductions that something fishy was afoot and most likely romance, which later became the truth the public sought.
Iche further stated,
“In my opinion, Senator Akpabio has sold his respect; hence, the talk down he’s getting. Natasha’s details of interaction over time with her leader (Sen. Akpabio) with allegations of sexual harassment as exposed to the public need to be addressed with caution and given a listening ear. Nigerians should not be quick to judge Natasha for her truth but rather should examine the situation critically to discourage the sexual harassment of women by their bosses in all sectors.”
“The public should note that sexual harassment can also be alleged when a man or woman initiates inappropriate suggestions or discussions with the opposite sex, especially sexual advances. Harassment can also be said to have occurred when one is touched inappropriately, without the person’s consent.”
“For Senator Natasha, who is a married woman, to come out in the public domain alleging that Akpabio had harassed her severally, leading to the stagnation of her Ajaokuta motion, is a public embarrassment to the Senate president.”
“The body of the Human Rights Advocate is giving Senator Akpabio four (4) working days to come out on national television to debunk the allegations levied against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan; otherwise, pay the price of the lawsuit slammed against him by the female lawmaker. Akpabio should also give a public account of the ex-NDDC MD who claimed she slapped him for sexual assault.”
“Akpabio has been a controversial lawmaker since he assumed the office of the Senate president. By the look of things, Akpabio doesn’t possess that value or respect; it is an error for him to occupy that post. Aside from the issue of sexual harassment, Akpabio has been on the wanted list of the EFCC; a questionable character is not fit to be a leader, especially the senate president of a country. What laws can be put into effect when he does not respect the law he enacts?.”
“By the Nigerian order of ranking, the Senate president is the number 3 most important man in the country after the president and the vice. A person with a questionable character should not even be a member of the Senate, not to talk of holding such an exalted post; he holds a non-impressive record so far. As a human rights body, we suggest that Sen. Akpabio step down honorably, for he has fumbled.”
“Also, the committee of women’s affairs condemning Natasha’s public outcry should be investigated; obviously, they are either seeking validation or might have been bought over by the senate president. I encourage other women in Nigeria to rise up and back Natasha up to reduce the spate of employers-to-employees’ harassment in every sector, whether it’s a government or private parastatal.”
In conclusion, Iche commends women who are courageous enough to speak up against victimization, sexual harassment, and violation of their rights, as seen in Senator Natasha’s recent public outburst; he says if Senate President Godswill Akpabio cannot uphold uprightness, he should resign from office. Meanwhile, the Senate President’s Wife, Unoma Godswill Akpabio, files fundamental rights and defamation suits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Unoma stated that Natasha was maligning her husband and “creating content for personal gains.”.
