The suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has publicly shared her experience on Sky News, revealing that she endured alleged sexual advances from Senate President Godswill Akpabio for over a year.
In the interview on Wednesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan asserted that her suspension was directly linked to her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, not the alleged misconduct cited by the Senate. She claimed the Senate President repeatedly told her that to enjoy the privileges of her office, she had to “please him.”
“I made an allegation of sexual harassment against Senator Godswill Akpabio on March 5, 2025, and the very next day, I was suspended for six months. I believe my suspension is illegal, unjust, and just a way of silencing me,” she said.
“For over a year, I endured harassment. When I refused to yield to his demands, my rights and privileges as a senator were revoked.”
The lawmaker added that the breaking point came when she was removed from her seat, a decision she described as the culmination of a series of actions intended to silence her.
“I was denied the chance to speak on crucial matters in the Senate. Each time I approached Akpabio, I was told to please him to get my privileges, but I refused, and this led to malice.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also rejected the Senate’s claim that her suspension was due to gross misconduct, calling it a calculated attempt to cover up the real reason for her punishment.
She questioned, “Can they explain what the gross misconduct is that justified a six-month suspension after I submitted my petition? I was punished for speaking out, not for any misconduct.”
She emphasized the double standards within the Senate, recalling instances where male senators engaged in violent confrontations without facing sanctions.
“I have seen men throw things, scream, and curse each other, yet they were not suspended because they are men,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further detailed the challenges she faced, noting that her husband had tried to intervene on her behalf, urging Akpabio to allow her to speak on important issues.
“Despite this, Akpabio continued to deny me this opportunity. He said I had to please him to be allowed to speak,” she revealed.
The lawmaker’s suspension, which followed a dispute over her seating arrangement in the Senate, came just after she took her case to an international platform.
At the United Nations, during the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting, she accused Akpabio of political victimization and called for global intervention.
In addition to the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan reported harsh measures imposed on her, including the withdrawal of her security, salary cuts, and a ban from the National Assembly for six months.
