Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has officially submitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the Senate floor.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Wednesday arrived at the Senate Chamber with her husband Emmanuel Uduaghan as plenary resumed after a one-week recess.
In a brief but affectionate moment, her husband kissed her before she proceeded into the chamber to take her seat.
The Kogi State senator took her place in her newly assigned seat, which has been at the center of an ongoing controversy.
Rising under Order 40 of the Senate rules, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that she had previously made allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio during an interview on Arise TV and had now decided to present them formally as a petition before the Senate. Akpabio permitted her to proceed with the submission, which she did.
In February 2025, tensions escalated in the Senate when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested a change in her seating arrangement.
On February 20, 2025, she objected to the reassignment of her seat without her consent. Despite directives from Akpabio and intervention from the Sergeant-at-Arms, she refused to vacate the seat, leading to a heated exchange.
She declared, “I don’t care if I am silenced, I am not afraid. You have denied me my privilege.”
Days later, she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he made unwanted advances toward her during a visit to his residence in Akwa Ibom State on December 8, 2023.
She claimed her refusal led to victimization within the Senate, including obstruction of her motions on corruption investigations at the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The Senate, through its spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, stated on March 4, 2025, that it could not initiate a probe into the allegations without a formal petition from Akpoti-Uduaghan.
