Senate in Turmoil Over Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio

The Nigerian Senate descended into chaos on Wednesday as lawmakers clashed over the handling of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The dispute erupted after Akpoti-Uduaghan invoked Order 10 of the Senate Rules, seeking to have her petition officially admitted and referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

Her move came after Akpabio publicly denied ever harassing any woman, following allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a television interview. However, the Senate session quickly became heated as Senator Mohammed Monguno opposed the petition’s admission, citing Order 40 of the Senate Rules. He argued that since the matter was already in court, discussing it in the chamber would be subjudice and an overreach of judicial authority.

“Mr. Senate President, distinguished colleagues, you are aware that the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Unoma Ekaete Akpabio, and her family have taken Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to court following her allegations on Arise Television last week. This means this chamber is legally barred from deliberating on the same issue,” Monguno stated.

Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele also questioned the procedure, pointing out that the Senate had made a procedural error in admitting the petition. He explained that Senate rules prohibit a senator from personally signing a petition against the Senate leadership, stating that such petitions must be submitted by constituents. However, he suggested that Akpabio may have allowed it to proceed to avoid being accused of suppressing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to speak.

As tensions escalated, Bamidele proposed that the Senate move into a closed-door session to discuss the matter privately. The session’s outcome remains uncertain, but the confrontation highlights the deepening divisions within the Senate and the growing controversy surrounding the allegations against Akpabio.