Senate President Godswill Akpabio has spoken on his relationship with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator representing Kogi Central.
Gatekeepers News reports that on February 20, Akpabio and Natasha engaged in a heated debate on the floor of the house over a change in seating arrangements.
Natasha during an interview on Friday, February 28, alleged that her ordeal with the Senate president began after she rejected his s*xual advances.
Following her claims, Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, Natasha’s husband backed the allegations, saying Akpabio continued to harass his wife despite their friendship.
On Wednesday, March 5, she tendered a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio on the floor of the house.
On Thursday, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review, and she was suspended for six months.
Speaking during the senate plenary on Thursday, Akpabio dismissed the allegations, stressing that he has a cordial relationship with Natasha’s husband whom he considers a friend.
The senate speaker recounted an ordeal he encountered when he attended the couple’s wedding in 2022.
Akpabio said he was stranded and had to sleep at Dangote cement factory in Obajana in Kogi state for three days with nine others due to poor electricity at the airport.
He said, “I only have my wife and children to contend with. Even the senator we are discussing is the wife of my close friend and brother, so I thought.”
“On the day of her marriage, I slept in Kogi in her house. The next day, I ran to Obajana airport. I missed my flight because the plane could not land since there was no light.”
“I ended up sleeping at Dangote cement factory with nine people. I spent three days there. Even when Senator Nwaebonyi attempted to say that he was present in the same car, the social media said he was lying.”
The senate president further lamented that the issues raised by Senator Natasha have brought disrepute to the upper legislative chamber.
Addressing concerns on why he still presides during plenary despite the controversy, Akpabio said as senate president, he is obligated to continue to supervise and direct sessions.
He said, “I have the responsibility. If you look at the rules of the Senate, the rule which is an extension of the Nigeria constitution gives me the power under section 20, subsection h and i.”
“That the senate president shall be responsible for the observance of the rules of debate. He shall give rulings on points of order or of constitution raised during debate. Above all, he is the only person to interpret the rules.”
“That is why I stayed here. I’m in the best position to interpret the rules of the Senate because I have the constitutional power enshrined in this.”
