Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Akpabio of victimizing her over her refusal to his sexual advances.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio made inappropriate advances towards her during a visit to his residence in Akwa Ibom.
Recounting the incident on Friday, the Kogi Central senator claimed that the encounter occurred in December, just a day before their respective birthdays.
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“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, then he held my hands, walking around from room to room, he showed 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.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio comes just days after a tense showdown in the Senate, where Akpabio ordered her removal from the chamber.
The confrontation erupted on Thursday, February 20, after Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno informed Akpabio that Akpoti-Uduaghan had refused to relocate to a new seat, which had been reassigned following the defection of two opposition senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Citing Senate Orders 24 and 6, Monguno argued that the Senate President had the authority to reassign seats and that lawmakers were only permitted to speak from their designated positions. He insisted that Akpabio was within his rights to prevent a senator from contributing to debates if they were not seated in their assigned spot.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, objected under Order 10, arguing that her parliamentary privileges had been violated. Her protest was swiftly dismissed as Akpabio ordered the sergeants-at-arms to escort her out, escalating the tension within the chamber.
