There has been growing concerns over the sexual harassment accusations levelled against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio this past week .
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who made the allegations after a dispute with the Senate President on the floor of the Red Chamber has warned Akpabio’s wife, Unoma, to stay out of the issue.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, accused Akpabio of harassing her after she refused to sit in a designated seat during a Senate session. She later appeared on Arise News TV, claiming that Akpabio had been blocking her motions, damaging her reputation, and intimidating her for rejecting his advances.
In response, Mrs. Akpabio held a press conference, dismissing the allegations and saying both families had been close for a long time. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, sent a letter on March 1, 2025, telling Mrs. Akpabio to stay away from the matter and let her husband defend himself. The letter stated that the senator has solid evidence to back up her claims.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed concern over how the issue affects the Senate’s reputation. He urged both sides to follow the law and Senate rules to resolve the matter transparently. Saraki warned that the Senate should not be seen as a place that tolerates sexual harassment, gender bias, or abuse of power.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to step in and prevent the situation from escalating into an international embarrassment. NANS urged both parties to make peace and settle the matter.
