The Nigerian Senate has recently been embroiled in a series of disputes involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Akpabio of making unwanted advances towards her and subsequently victimizing her after she rejected them. She claimed that her confrontations with Akpabio began after she declined his alleged romantic propositions.
Tensions escalated during a recent Senate session when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted Senate President Akpabio over the reassignment of her seat. She resisted the relocation, leading to a heated exchange between her and Akpabio.
The situation has elicited varied reactions from different quarters. Over 300 women’s groups have criticized Akpabio for his remarks against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, demanding an unreserved apology. Conversely, stakeholders from the Niger Delta region have condemned Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s outburst against Akpabio, describing her allegations as frivolous and a deliberate campaign to tarnish the Senate President’s reputation.
As of now, the legal proceedings initiated by both parties are ongoing, and the Senate has yet to officially address the internal disputes between its members.
Akpabio’s wife, Unoma Akpabio, has dismissed these allegations, describing them as unfounded and misleading. She stated that her husband is disciplined and responsible, accusing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of fabricating the claims.
Unoma Akpabio has filed separate lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, over alleged defamation and violation of fundamental human rights.
The legal action follows recent claims by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, that her troubles in the Senate started following her refusal to have a sexual relationship with the Senate President.
In the first suit on fundamental rights violation (Suit No: CV/814/25), Mrs Akpabio accused the senator of making false and scandalous statements that caused emotional trauma for her and her children, leaving them in fear for their lives.
She asked the court to declare the statements a violation of her right to dignity under the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
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