In an escalating dispute between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Kogi Central representative has called on Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, the Senate President’s wife, to distance herself from the ongoing allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against her husband.
The tension began when Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to sit in a designated seat during a Senate session, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules. The disagreement intensified when she appeared on Arise News on Friday, accusing Akpabio of blocking her motions, maligning her reputation, and intimidating her after she allegedly turned down his sexual advances.
In response, Mrs. Akpabio held a press conference in Abuja, strongly dismissing the allegations against her husband. She claimed that both families had shared a cordial relationship for years, even before Akpoti-Uduaghan’s marriage, and argued that the claims against Akpabio were unfounded.
However, in a letter dated March 1, 2025, addressed to Mrs. Akpabio through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan advised the Senate President’s wife to refrain from getting involved in the controversy. The letter, titled “Stay Away from Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sexual Harassment and Intimidation Allegation Against Sen. President Godswill Akpabio; To Safeguard Your Sanity and That of Your Family”, emphasized that the allegations were personal to the Senate President and that he alone should defend himself.
Akpoti-Uduaghan reiterated that while she had long endured harassment from Akpabio, she was now compelled to speak out. The letter read in part, “Our client is not desirous of calling you out into the unfortunate saga concerning her allegations against the Senate President and wishes that you restrain yourself from delving into the obscene circumstances… The allegations of our client are personal to the Senate President, and our client believes the Senate President has the capacity to defend himself.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan further asserted that she has concrete evidence to back up her claims and urged Mrs. Akpabio to allow her husband to handle the situation on his own to protect the well-being of her family.
“Our client has sufficient evidence to substantiate her allegations. We suggest that you leave the defense of the allegations to the Senate President in order to maintain your sanity and that of your family,” the letter concluded.
The senator also affirmed her commitment to defending Nigerian women and her strong belief in upholding family values, as she continues to stand firm in her fight for justice.
