- Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan submits a formal sexual harassment petition against Senate President Akpabio in the National Assembly, intensifying the controversy
- The petition marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute, with civil society groups staging protests calling for Akpabio’s resignation
- The Senate had previously stated it would not investigate until a formal petition was filed, and this submission could escalate the political tensions in Abuja
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has formally submitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the National Assembly.
The petition was tendered during the resumption of Senate plenary on Tuesday, March 4, morning, shortly after the upper legislative chamber reconvened.
This move follows earlier claims made by Akpoti-Uduaghan, but the Senate had previously stated it would not investigate the allegations until a formal petition was presented.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was seen arriving at the Assembly complex with her husband on Tuesday, just hours before submitting the petition.
The submission marks a significant development in the ongoing controversy between the two lawmakers.
This petition comes amid growing protests in Abuja, with demonstrators calling for Akpabio’s resignation over the allegations.
The protests, led by various civil society groups, have intensified as the situation continues to unfold.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan sues Godswill Akpabio over defamation
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his aide.
The lawsuit followed a controversial Facebook post suggesting Akpoti-Uduaghan was shallow in her approach to lawmaking. Akpoti-Uduaghan resisted the move, leading to a confrontation with Akpabio, the Senate President.
In the suit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on 25 February 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan names Senator Akpabio, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, Mfon Patrick, as the second and third defendants. The suit, marked CV/737/25, claims that a Facebook post, written by Patrick at Akpabio’s prompting, contained defamatory statements against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
