Amidst the swirling controversy that has gripped the Nigerian Senate, former Senate President Bukola Saraki has weighed in on the heated face-off between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
The drama unfolded on the 20th of February, 2025, during a plenary session when Natasha discovered that her seat had been reassigned without prior notice.
The unexpected move led to a tense exchange between her and Akpabio, culminating in a Senate decision to refer her to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review.
However, the matter took a dramatic turn when Natasha, in an interview with Arise Television on the 28th of February, accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, sending shockwaves across the political landscape. Social media has since been ablaze with divided opinions, as Nigerians debate the weighty allegations.
Stepping into the fray, Saraki, in a statement released on the 1st of March, 2025, called for adherence to “the constitution, laws of the country, rules of the Senate as well as parliamentary conventions and practices” in addressing the controversy. Stressing the need for transparency, he cautioned all parties involved to ensure that “nothing is done to rubbish the institution.”
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Expressing his disappointment over the situation, Saraki stated, “I have watched from afar the recent development in the Senate between the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. It is a development that has made me sad because of its overall negative effect on the integrity, sanctity, image, and public perception of the institution.”
The former Senate President further emphasized that all stakeholders whether current or former lawmakers must “jealously protect these values which make the institution the numero uno among the three arms of government.” He urged both Akpabio and Natasha, as well as their supporters within and outside the Senate, to consider the far-reaching consequences of their actions, “to be sure that nothing is done to rubbish the institution.”
As the nation watches closely, the unfolding drama raises critical questions about power dynamics within Nigeria’s legislative chambers and the broader implications of these allegations on the credibility of the Senate.