Politics
Senate Denies As Natasha Alleges Akpabio Held, Squeezed Her Hand
By Benjamin Abioye
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has compared the Nigerian Senate to a “cult,” alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio once squeezed her hand in a sexually suggestive way.
The claim that Senator Godswill Akpabio held and squeezed her hand is the latest in the assertions by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who has been suspended over alleged violations of Senate rules.
According to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan many senators are too afraid to express opposing views because they fear possible consequences.
In an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was recently suspended for “gross misconduct,” also doubled down on her claim that Akpabio sexually harassed her. She alleged that the incident happened when she visited Akpabio’s country home.
She stated, “I am being victimized. My suspension is a means of silencing me.” Her suspension took effect on March 6, 2025, following a disagreement over seating arrangements with Akpabio.
Describing her experience, she said, “It was episode after episode, moment after moment, we were at his country home. He was taking me around his house. My husband was walking behind us. He held my hand. He then squeezed my hands in a very suggestive way. We women, we know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way,” Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan said of Akpabio squeezing her hand.
She also accused Akpabio of making inappropriate comments, recalling an incident where he noticed she wasn’t wearing her wedding ring. “He said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring, is this an invitation to treat?’ You know, statements like this,” she recounted.
However, Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi denied her allegations. Speaking to the BBC, he dismissed the claims of sexual harassment, insisting that there was no instance where Akpabio acted inappropriately toward Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Nwaebonyi also rejected the claim that the Senate was trying to silence her. “Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show this claim is not true,” he argued, stating that her actions in the Senate do not support her allegations of retaliation.
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