Video: Akpabio’s wife responds as Natasha accuses Senate president of sexual harassment

DDM News

Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has dismissed allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM) the controversy began when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, claimed that Akpabio made unwanted advances toward her.

She further alleged that her refusal to yield to his demands led to her being denied the opportunity to present a motion.

The Kogi-born lawmaker made these allegations on Friday during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show program.

Reacting to the accusations while addressing journalists in Abuja, Akpabio’s wife strongly refuted the claims.

She described the allegations as an attempt to tarnish her husband’s reputation.

Unoma Akpabio accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of creating controversy for personal gain.

She emphasized that the accusation was baseless and demeaning.

The wife of the Senate president stated that her husband and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s spouse were close associates.

She portrayed the Senate president as a man of discipline and a jovial personality.

According to her, Natasha’s allegations were an insult to the integrity of the legislative institution.

Unoma Akpabio insisted that the claims were politically motivated.

She questioned the timing of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusations.

She argued that such allegations could mislead the public and create unnecessary tension.

In a related development, Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disagreed with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of mistreatment.

Kingibe criticized her colleague’s assertion that the recent reassignment of her seat was a plot to undermine her legislative duties.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier raised concerns in the Red Chamber over her seating reassignment.

She protested that the Senate president had reassigned her seat without justification.

During the plenary session, she attempted to speak but was denied recognition.

She was informed that she was not speaking from the seat officially designated to her.

Her vocal objection led to an uproar in the chamber.

Senators unanimously voted to refer her case to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

The committee is expected to conduct a disciplinary review of the matter.

However, while appearing on Arise TV on Friday, February 28, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan linked the seating issue to a broader plot.

She claimed that the reassignment was meant to frustrate her role in the Senate.

She doubled down on her claims, insisting that Akpabio had sexually harassed her.

She alleged that the Senate president was using his position to suppress her voice.

Reacting to these claims, Kingibe suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not following Senate rules.

She pointed out that three other female senators had been silent on the matter.

She said they did not want to engage in a public dispute against their colleague.

Kingibe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, acknowledged that the Senate was not always gender-inclusive.

She noted that conditions had improved significantly over time.

She urged female lawmakers to abide by Senate rules instead of engaging in unnecessary confrontations.

“Silence is golden, especially when one of us is not following the rules,” Kingibe stated.

“As women, we did not want to say anything negative about her publicly,” she added.

“We were hoping this issue would eventually fade away, as many issues do,” she said.

She dismissed the controversy surrounding the seat reassignment.

She argued that both male and female senators had been moved on several occasions.

“The Senate is not a place for trivial fights over seating arrangements,” she said.

“On that day, I wasn’t present, but I gathered that multiple senators were reassigned,” she continued.

“Yes, the Senate is not entirely gender-friendly, but the situation has improved,” she noted.

“When we raise concerns, the Senate president listens and makes corrections,” she said.

“The reality is that there has been no specific bias against female senators,” she added.

She emphasized that women in politics must recognize the need to follow established procedures.

“I want women to understand that we must adhere to the rules,” she said.

“That is the key point here,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, Akpabio’s wife continued to defend her husband.

She reiterated that he had built a reputation as a disciplined and respectful leader.

She urged the public to disregard Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations.

She emphasized that they were designed to generate attention rather than address genuine grievances.

Unoma Akpabio stated that it was regrettable that political figures resort to such claims.

She argued that these accusations were meant to manipulate public sentiment.

She encouraged Nigerians to focus on real governance issues rather than distractions.

“The Senate president is known for his jovial and approachable nature,” she said.

“Some people choose to misinterpret his personality,” she added.

“This is not the first time he has been wrongly accused,” she stated.

She criticized the use of social media and television interviews to spread unverified allegations.

She argued that such actions undermine the credibility of public office holders.

She warned that these distractions shift attention away from pressing national issues.

The wife of the Senate president called on stakeholders to uphold the dignity of the Senate.

She urged politicians to avoid allowing personal grievances to overshadow their legislative responsibilities.

She stressed the importance of fostering a professional and respectful atmosphere in the Red Chamber.

As the controversy continues, political analysts have noted possible further escalation.

They suggest that the Senate Ethics Committee’s review will be crucial.

Some believe the findings could shape future interactions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate leadership.

Despite the accusations, Unoma Akpabio remains firm in defending her husband

She maintained that the claims against Akpabio were baseless.

She insisted that the Senate president would not be distracted by unfounded allegations.

The situation has sparked intense debate within the political sphere.

Some Nigerians support Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to speak out.

Others believe her approach has been overly confrontational.

The Senate Ethics Committee’s findings may influence future political discourse.

For now, Unoma Akpabio urges Nigerians to focus on governance.

She warns against being caught up in political distractions.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook