Senate President Godswill Akpabio has rejected allegations of sexual harassment made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking on Wednesday as the Senate resumed plenary after a week-long recess, Akpabio dismissed the claims, asserting that he has always respected women and would never engage in such behaviour.
“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,” Akpabio stated.
He also revealed that since the allegations emerged on February 25, he had received numerous calls and messages, with social media buzzing over the issue. He urged Nigerians, journalists, and social media users to refrain from jumping to conclusions and to allow the court to address the matter.
However, shortly after Akpabio’s statement, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan rose to the floor, citing Order 40 of the Senate Rules, and submitted a formal petition against the Senate President. In her petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office.
She then requested permission to present the petition before the chamber.
The Senate subsequently referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for review.
The committee has been tasked with examining the case and reporting its findings as soon as possible.
The ongoing dispute between the two lawmakers began in February, sparked by a disagreement over seating arrangements. The situation escalated into a heated confrontation, culminating in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio. Earlier in the session, the Kogi Central senator took her newly assigned seat but notably refused to rise when Senate President Akpabio entered for the start of plenary. This departure from tradition, where senators typically stand as a sign of respect for the presiding officer, further fueled the tension between the two.
