A fresh wave of controversy hit the Nigerian Senate as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan formally submitted a petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. The petition, submitted on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, has intensified political tensions, coming just hours after rival protests rocked the National Assembly, with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters demanding Akpabio’s resignation while his backers dismissed the allegations.
During the Senate plenary, Akpoti-Uduaghan invoked Order 40 of the Senate Rules, reaffirming the accusations she had previously made in a televised interview. Akpabio allowed her to proceed with the submission but faced immediate resistance from key Senate leaders.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North) and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) challenged the petition’s referral to the Ethics Committee, arguing that the case was already in court and therefore sub judice. Monguno further stated that, by Senate rules, a petition signed by a senator could not be entertained, urging that it be dismissed.
Despite the heated debate, Akpabio ruled that the Senate would continue its scheduled proceedings, citing the presence of distinguished visitors in the gallery.
This latest face-off follows an earlier confrontation in which Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Akpabio over the reassignment of her Senate seat—a move she strongly opposed, accusing him of political intimidation. With the allegations now officially before the Senate, the matter has taken center stage in Nigeria’s political discourse, drawing national and international attention.
