There seems to be a malicious synergy amongst the presidency, the Senate and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hound the Senator representing Kogi Central in the 10th Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
By Udoka Ekeleme, Abuja
The verbal altercation between Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwaebonyi representing the Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly and a former Minister of Solid Minerals and Education, Oby Ezekwesili on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 has become the ant-climax of the crisis rocking the Senate over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central and her sexual harassment allegations against President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili who was at the Senate on the day in solidarity with Akpoti-Uduaghan for the investigation into her sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio, berated the Red Chamber for blocking the avenue for the investigation. She described Nigerian lawmakers as a bunch of nation-destroyers, accusing them of behaving with impunity.
The statement came after The Economist reported that Nigerian politics is a nasty place for women.
The Economist had detailed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegation against Akpabio, and stressed that sexual-harassment scandal reflected the harsh conditions Nigerian women encounter in politics.
Reacting to the post, Ezekwesili said the Senate had brought shame upon Nigeria and Nigerians by their brazen refusal to provide an opportunity for an independent investigation into the matter.
The former minister further stated that the Senate and Senate President had instead embarked on a smear campaign against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili’s said: “Here’s @TheEconomist in yet another post on the shame brought upon Nigeria and Nigerians by @Senator_Akpabio @NGRSenate by their brazen refusal to provide an opportunity for an independent investigation and open/ transparent public hearing by a Specially Constituted Committee of the Nigerian Senate.
“No one wants another Kangaroo process of injustice like they did to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan @NatashaAkpoti with their so-called “Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions “investigation” when she was referred to that tainted committee following the heated argument between her and the Senate President over seating arrangements.
“The committee recommended a six-month suspension and other egregious punishment, which were in violation of the Constitution and yet were approved by the Senate.
“Rather than reverse that illegality and focus on her petition for sexual harassment, the Senate and Senate President have instead embarked on a smear campaign against Senator @NatashaAkpoti.
“They are currently conspiring to execute a sham Recall by bribing her constituents who thankfully have largely rejected their offer of filthy lucre.
“What a bunch of nation-destroyers we have as “Lawmakers”. They behave with impunity because they have taken a chokehold on our democracy.
“Well, it is time for all reasonable Citizens to stand up to them and all the way before they totally destroy whatever is left of Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, there was an argument between Senator Nwaebonyi and Ezekwesili on that Tuesday.
The confrontation took place at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions on the fresh petition submitted by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili joined Abiola Akiode, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the petitioner, Zubairu Yakubu, at the Senate Committee hearing.
Yakubu had made efforts to speak while Neda Imaseun, the Senate Committee Chairman, was speaking, but he was asked to put off his mic.
When Ezekwesili tried to intervene, Nwaebonyi — who appeared as a witness for Senate President Godswill Akpabio — interrupted her. She then told him to “compose himself and stop making noise”, which immediately sparked an outburst from the Senator.
Whereupon Nwaebonyi retorted, “You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.”
Ezekwesili fired back, calling him a “hooligan”, which further infuriating the lawmaker.
The heated exchange disrupted the session before order was eventually restored.
Following the incident, Imaseun announced that the case was now before a court of law, leading to an abrupt end to the hearing.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Imaseun, thereafter declared the sexual harassment case as “closed” within the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Imaseun made this declaration in response to comments from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Akiode, who had accused him of bias in handling the matter.
Imaseun emphasized that the case, which had attracted significant attention, had been concluded and no further action would be taken at the Senate level.
Earlier, Akiode, who represents Akpoti-Uduaghan, had urged Imaseun to step down from his position as chairman of the Senate committee, citing alleged bias in his handling of the case.
Akiode said, “Our intention is that, if we are going to proceed, we want the chair to please step down from this conversation to allow for fairness and justice in accordance with the constitution of this country.”
In his response, Imaseun said the case was already before the court and the committee would stay out of the matter.
Imaseun said, “Let me tell you, the first petition that came before us was signed by distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Contrary to our rules, you cannot sign your own petition. The petition that came before us did not even have an address. Contrary to our rules, that petition shouldn’t have been entertained.
“In any case, for the position that I can see you are taking, it means the whole senate is biased. Because the whole senate witnessed what happened. So, I don’t know what ad-hoc committee you are going to constitute that is not aware of what has been going on.
“Learned respondent (Akpabio’s counsel) has just told us that this matter is before the law court, and I will address that by our rule book. I will address that by our rule book, order 40 (7), which says ‘senate should not receive or deliberate on any matter to which actions are pending in any court of law’. This is our rule book.
“Therefore, the petitioner said he would not speak to his petition because the committee is biased, the respondent has just told us that this case is before a competent court of law, therefore, this committee will allow the court of law, that will not be biased, to handle this matter.
“Therefore, this matter is closed here at the senate and it is adjourned sine die.”
Notably, there has been an intensity in the calls for the resignation of Akpabio especially since a former vice President and the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, accused him of promiscuity, sexual harassment and corruption. Appearing in a recent interview, Atiku challenged Akpabio to take him up if he was lying.
Those who are calling for Akpabio’s resignation hinged their call on the fact that he is not qualified to be the judge in his own case whenever the Senate chooses to constitute a committee to investigate the sexual harassment allegations. Atiku also insisted that the Senate should allow a committee that is not under the control of Akpabio as with Senate’s Ethics and Public Petitions Committee, to investigate the case.
Atiku also demanded for an independent committee to investigate Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegation. He said, “I urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate itself to take these allegations seriously by ensuring a credible, transparent, and independent investigation.
“With only four women currently serving in the Senate, it is imperative that we foster an environment where female legislators can serve without fear of harassment or intimidation.
“This moment demands careful and principled action to uphold the integrity of our institutions and ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of gender, is treated with dignity and respect.
“These allegations are grave and deserve a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation. The Nigerian Senate represents the voice of the people. Those who serve in it — especially its leadership — must uphold the highest standards of integrity, dignity, and respect, both for their office and for the Nigerian citizens they serve.
“As the third most powerful figure in the country, the Senate President should embody unimpeachable character.”
Atiku further described the alleged sexual harassment as a barrier to women’s advancement and the nation’s progress. According to him, “Sexual harassment in the workplace is a significant barrier to women’s advancement and, by extension, the nation’s progress. Allegations of such misconduct should never be simply dismissed, particularly when they involve a public officer with immense power, influence, and responsibility.
“As the chief presiding officer of the Upper Chamber, the Senate President has a duty to champion the protection and empowerment of Nigerian women through legislation — not to be the subject of allegations that undermine those very principles.
“The handling of this matter will send a strong message about Nigeria’s commitment to justice, accountability, and the inclusion of women in governance.”
Atiku has also described Akpabio as a highly corrupt politician. He accused Akpabio of being a corrupt leader with a history of abusing women. The former Vice President made the remark in response to the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio and the National Assembly’s approval of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
In an interview with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie of Untold Stories, Atiku said: “Not only is he corrupt, but he is also in the habit of abusing women.
“I was not surprised that the state of emergency passed in the National Assembly because I know that the leadership is corrupt, and I have no apologies for saying that. They could do anything.
“The Senate President has been known for such behavior even when he was a governor.”
Amid these allegations, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the political crisis between Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The crisis between the two escalated to the state House of Assembly.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling, tensions persisted, with the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule preventing Fubara from accessing the complex to present the 2025 budget.
The ongoing crisis led Tinubu to suspend Fubara for six months, declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, and appoint a sole administrator. Following this declaration, the National Assembly approved the president’s proclamation without following due process.
The famed federal might and its cohorts in the Senate and the ruling APC appear to be unrelenting in their quest to subdue Akpoti-Uduaghan and ensure that she would be disgraced out of the Red Chamber. These forces have consolidated their efforts to effect a recall of the embattled woman senator.
Some of her constituents allegedly loyal to the APC and dancing the party’s tune against her, had initiated a recall process against her which is earning traction as days pass.
On Monday, March 24, 2025, these elements stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja where they submitted a petition for Akpoti-Uduaghan recall to the INEC Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu. In the petition dated March 21, 2025, the electorate of Kogi Central said they had lost confidence in her representation.
In reaction, the INEC, in a statement by its Chairman on Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, faulted the petition for lacking contact address, telephone numbers and email addresses of the electorate seeking the recall, through which they can be contacted as stipulated in Clause 1 (f) of INEC Regulations and Guidelines.
However, INEC has still formally notified the Senate President Akpabio and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of the recall petition initiated by her constituents after it said that the errors in the petitions had been corrected.
In another statement, the electoral body said, “Further to the statement issued yesterday, Tuesday 25th March 2025, the Commission hereby confirms that the contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission dated today Wednesday 26th March 2025.
Olumekun added in the later statement that in line with Clause 2(a) of INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, the Commission has officially notified Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of the petition submitted against her.
Olumekun said, “A letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address. The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.
INEC is now set to scrutinise the list of signatories attached to the petition to determine whether more than 50 per cent of the registered voters in Kogi Central endorsed the recall process.
“The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission. We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent,” Olumekun added.
In another development, Akpabio has been accused of using his former Chief of Staff, now a Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Udo Umoren, to push for the recall of Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Available information at the time of filing this report indicated that Umoren was allegedly spotted at the INEC headquarters from morning till evening on Monday, March 24, 2025 where he allegedly tried to influence the recall process.
