ABUJA, Nigeria — Senator Adams Oshiomhole has clarified his earlier comments on the controversy surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, denying that he alleged signatures of lawmakers were forged in the report that recommended her suspension.
Oshiomhole, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said his comments during an interview on AIT’s Politics Today programme on Monday were misrepresented, insisting that he never claimed any senator’s signature was forged. The former Edo State governor said his position was consistent with that of the Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, that no senator’s signature was forged because no lawmaker had complained to him about such.
He explained that the only issue he raised was that a senator who served on the committee had claimed that attendance signatures of some lawmakers were attached to the final report.
“The insinuation that I said signatures of senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said,” Oshiomhole stated. “I agree absolutely with the spokesperson of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Yemi Adaramodu, that no signature of senators was forged in Natasha Akpoti’s suspension. This is because no senator complained to me that his or her signature was forged.”
The Edo North senator added that any suggestion that he accused anyone of forging signatures was “completely untrue” and should be disregarded. He noted that the issue of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension had been concluded, adding that the Senate had moved on.
“I regret if my comments may have caused embarrassment to any senator or the 10th Senate as an institution,” Oshiomhole concluded.
His clarification came hours after the Senate dismissed claims that the suspension process was manipulated, accusing Oshiomhole of attempting to reopen a settled matter. The Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, had earlier said the disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan followed due process and was handled openly on the floor of the chamber.
Adaramodu described the allegation as false and insisted that no senator had raised concerns about forged signatures. He stated that if Senator Ireti Kingibe, whose name was mentioned by Oshiomhole, had any complaint, she would have raised it formally before the Senate rather than to an individual.
“That is not true. Signatures forged, over what?” Adaramodu said during a telephone interview with TheCable. “If Senator Kingibe had anything against any procedure, she would report it on the floor of the senate, not to an individual.”
Adaramodu also disclosed that the Senate would review Oshiomhole’s comments before deciding whether any action should be taken against him. He maintained that senators are independent-minded people who would raise objections on the floor of the Senate if their rights were violated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senator representing Kogi Central, was suspended in March 2025 for six months following allegations of gross misconduct and unruly behavior during a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio regarding sitting arrangements in the chamber.
