Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Breaking his silence on Wednesday as the Senate resumed plenary after a week-long recess, Akpabio dismissed the claims, stating that he has always respected women and would never engage in such misconduct.
“At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.”
He said that since February 25, when the allegations surfaced, he had been inundated with calls and messages, with social media buzzing over the issue. He urged Nigerians, journalists, and social media users not to rush to conclusions but to allow the court to handle the matter.
However, just moments after Akpabio’s statement, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan took the floor, citing Order 40 of the Senate Rules, and submitted a formal petition against the Senate President. In the petition, she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office. She then requested permission to step forward and officially present the document before the chamber.
The Senate, in response, referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for review. The committee has been directed to examine the case and report its findings as soon as possible.
The dispute between the two lawmakers began in February over a disagreement on seating arrangements escalated into a heated confrontation. That culminated in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President.
Earlier, the Kogi Central senator took her newly assigned seat but notably refused to stand when Senate President Akpabio entered for the commencement of plenary. This was a clear departure from the usual tradition, where senators rise as a sign of respect for the presiding officer.
