Suspended senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has catalogued a series of sexually suggestive comments made to her by Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Mrs Natasha, suspended on March 6 for “gross misconduct and unruly behaviour” after an altercation with the Senate President over seating arrangements, has been sharing her thoughts in several media interviews.
In the latest interview with BBC, Natasha alleged that Mr. Akpabio would often “squeeze my hands in a very suggestive way.”
“We women, we know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way,” she added.
Natasha Akpoti told the BBC reporter: “There was a time I forgot to wear my ring because I rushed to work. And there were about five senators there.
“And Akpabio said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?’
“There was another time he made a statement like, ‘Natasha, your husband is really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist.’
“He makes such sexist statements.”
Senate’s Reaction and Natasha’s Defence
Asked how other senators reacted, Natasha Akpoti, broke down in tears: “And then they (other senators) all laughed.
“People don’t understand what it means to carry this. Maybe we don’t talk about it enough in Nigeria or Africa.
“I just want a place where I would just work. I thought the worst was over, but I guess for a woman, it’s never really over, right?”
After reported Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio GCON to AriseTv, IPU, BBC, Sky News,
— Pastor Okezie J. Atañi (@Onsogbu) March 20, 2025
Senator Natasha has gone back to BBC to report Senate President one more time….
I hope all those supporting can now see that she is on a blackmailing mission. pic.twitter.com/QB8IAil1Z6
The suspension came barely 24 hours after she submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio, which apparently worsened a situation that could have been better managed.
Yet, the Senate insists Natasha Akpoti’s suspension had nothing to do with the petition but strictly on her alleged unruly altercation in plenary.
In her defence, the mixed-blood Senator has asked why a Senate that has had violent altercations among members in the past has had none of them suspended.
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