posted 6th March 2025
Senate in Turmoil as Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Led Saga Unfolds
The Nigerian Senate witnessed a dramatic turn of events yesterday as tensions flared over a petition presented by Senator Natasha Akpoti at the plenary session. The petition, which addressed allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was ultimately dismissed under controversial circumstances, further igniting political discord.
Senator Akpoti formally submitted the petition during the plenary, but the Senate dismissed it on the grounds that she had personally signed it, a rationale many have criticised as a flimsy excuse to sidestep the issue. Meanwhile, the Ethics Committee, chaired by Senator who later made public comments defending Akpabio against accusations of misogyny, found itself embroiled in further controversy. His remarks, in which he dismissed concerns over Akpabio’s perceived bias against women, were widely condemned as themselves misogynistic, raising questions about his ability to impartially oversee the petition process.
The Senate also argued that the Ethics Committee does not entertain matters already in court, citing this as a reason to discard the petition. However, this reasoning was directly contradicted by the committee’s actions, as it proceeded to deliberate on the matter despite a court order explicitly instructing it not to do so. The blatant disregard for judicial authority led to uproar on the Senate floor, with lawmakers engaging in heated exchanges over the legal and ethical implications of the committee’s actions.
Outside the National Assembly, tensions manifested in the form of rival demonstrations. One group of protesters voiced support for Senator Akpoti, demanding fairness and transparency in the handling of her petition, while another faction rallied behind Akpabio, dismissing the allegations against him as politically motivated. The duelling protests underscored the deep divisions surrounding the controversy and further fuelled public discourse on the integrity of the Senate’s decision-making process.
Complicating the matter further are the backgrounds of the two key figures in the saga. Akpabio has faced previous allegations of sexual harassment, a history that many argue lends credibility to Akpoti’s claims. Conversely, Akpoti has been accused in the past of making false allegations, casting a shadow over the veracity of her claims. The clash between the two has thus become emblematic of broader issues within Nigeria’s political landscape, where power dynamics, gender biases, and legal loopholes continue to shape legislative proceedings.
With the dust far from settled, observers are keenly watching how the saga will unfold in the coming days. The apparent disregard for legal mandates by the Senate raises critical questions about the rule of law in Nigeria’s legislative processes. Whether further judicial interventions or political manoeuvring will determine the outcome remains to be seen, but what is certain is that the Akpabio-Akpoti debacle has exposed significant fractures within the nation’s governance structures.
