The female Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who sparred with the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, last Thursday, February 20, has made a scathing revelation of sexual harassment at the foundation of their altercation.
Mrs. Natasha, a mixed-race Nigerian with a Russian mother, is married to made the accusation during an Arise TV news interview on Friday.
The Senator said she traced her deteriorated relationship with the third man in government to an official visit to Mr. Akpabio’s country home in Akwa Ibom State on December 23.
“It all started the day before his birthday and my birthday because we are birthday mates. We were all in Akwa Ibom. At first, we were in his house at Ikot Ekpene. Then we all went to his house in Uyo. He held my hands, walking around from room to room, showing me the beautiful interiors. He got to this particular sitting room and asked me if I liked his house. I said, ‘Of course, Sir, every room is beautiful, beautiful taste.’ And he said, ‘Now you are a senator, I am going to create time for us to come create quality moments here. You will enjoy it.’ At that point, I just pulled away because I didn’t understand what he meant,” she said.
Background To The Estranged Relationship
Her accusation follows a heated Senate session last Thursday when Akpabio ordered sergeants-at-arms to remove her from the chamber.
Tensions rose after Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno informed Akpabio that Akpoti-Uduaghan had refused to move to her new seat, assigned after two opposition senators defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Monguno, citing Orders 24 and 6, stated that it was within the Senate President’s discretion to reassign senators’ seats. He also argued that a senator could only speak from their designated seat and that Akpabio had the authority to bar contributions from an unassigned position.
Akpoti-Uduaghan quickly objected, protesting under Order 10, claiming her privileges had been breached. However, the Senate President ordered her removal from the chamber, escalating the standoff.
The standoff has been sent to the Senate’s disciplinary committee for review. Ms Akpoti-Uduaghan demanded a live broadcast of the committee proceedings, which she may have been denied, prompting her live television allegations.
A reaction is still being awaited from the office of the senate president.
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