Akpabio-led Senate Is Like A Cult – Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Says

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, has alleged that the 10th Senate under the leadership of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio is being run like a secret cult in which members are so afraid to express dissenting opinions for fear of retribution.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan also said that the Nigerian Senate has been turned into a hall where members are silenced and intimidated to remain silent on issues.

She told BBC in an interview on Tuesday, March 18, that she was victimised with a suspension for speaking out against the authoritarianism of the Senate leadership.

In her words; “I am being victimized. My suspension is a means of silencing me”.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan pointedly accused Senator Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, saying that there was an incident during which Akpabio allegedly held her hand and also made some suggestive comments during a visit to his country home in 2023.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said that Senator Akpabio’s behaviour was not only unbecoming of a Senate President, but deeply involved in a clear case of sexual harassment.

She further said; “We women know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way.

“The Senate President, Akpabio made inappropriate comments about my marriage and my husband. He said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring. Is this an invitation to treat?” she noted.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations have been denied by Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, who is the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate.

Nwaebonyi described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations as baseless and unfounded, saying that he was at the Senate President’s house at the time but, did not however, say if he was following them behind.

In spite of the attempted denials by the Senate leadership, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that she stands on the truth and ready to pursue to its logical conclusion.

She has already filed a petition with the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Unio (IPU).

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s hurriedly packaged suspension by Senate has sparked a heated debate over the culture of silence and alleged intimidation in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly.

Towards this end, political events watchers and public analysts are insisting on an independent investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations in which the Senate leadership should submit to the probe by stepping down from office to allow for proper and unhindered findings.