Speaking in an interview on ARISE TV on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio had made unwanted advances toward her and is now retaliating against her refusal.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that she is facing political punishment for rejecting his advances.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE TV on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio had made unwanted advances toward her and is now retaliating against her refusal.
She also revealed that she has substantial evidence, including screenshots of their conversations, and challenged security agencies to investigate.
“He was always calling me on WhatsApp,” she stated, alleging that the Department of State Services (DSS) could extract their call records. She added that her husband is also a witness to the events.
She said her problem with Akpabio started on December 8, 2023 “when myself and my husband visited Akwa Ibom for Senator Akpabio’s birthday”.
She said, “Akpabio was showing me around his house and was holding my hands with my husband following behind us when he said, he wants me to come and be spending special moments in his house.
“My husband heard him and later told me not to travel abroad alone or be with the Senate President alone. In February, I wanted to move a motion for the investigation on the ills of the corrupt practice in a Ajaokuta steel company.
“I listed that motion five times. It was the sixth time that it was listed on the order paper that was approved. Many senators can testify to that.
“Before the motion made the order paper, I went to the Senate President in his office, and I said, ‘Senate President, you know how important this Ajaokuta Steel Company is to me, you know how important it is to my people and to Nigerians. I’ve noticed that you have stepped down this motion.’”
According to her, some senators had advised her to see Akpabio and plead with him about the matter.
But she alleged that Akpabio said, “’Natasha, I’m the Chief presiding officer of the Senate, you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me. Make me happy’.
“At that point, I said, ‘Sir, I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear this’. He said, ‘Well, the ball is in your court’. I left his office.”
She described her case as that of a “student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him”.
Following the public allegation, the Senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo South), has been given two weeks to report its findings.
The controversy follows a heated argument between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio after she discovered her seat had been changed without her consent.
The senator has also filed a N100.3 billion fundamental human rights lawsuit against Akpabio.
The accusations have further intensified tensions within the Senate, raising questions about the ethical conduct of top lawmakers and the handling of harassment allegations in Nigeria’s political space.
However, Akpabio has yet to publicly respond to the claims.