The leadership of the Senate has denied claims that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended due to her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The Senate has clarified that her suspension, which lasts for six months, was specifically due to her flagrant violations of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended), particularly her defiance of seat allocations and misconduct during Senate proceedings.
In a statement released on Saturday, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele refuted the false claims being circulated by certain media outlets, describing them as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. He explained that Akpoti-Uduaghan had persistently violated legislative decorum, including ignoring seating arrangements and speaking without being recognized by the presiding officer, which disrupted Senate activities.
The suspension, according to Bamidele, followed the report from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, which found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of several breaches of Senate rules. The violations cited included her refusal to sit in her assigned seat on February 25, 2025, and her disruptive behavior during plenary. Bamidele further emphasized that Akpoti-Uduaghan had disregarded the Senate’s summons and engaged in disrespectful conduct toward the leadership.
Senate Leader Bamidele further clarified that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition on sexual harassment was dismissed because it did not adhere to the Senate’s established procedural requirements for submitting petitions. The Senate's official rules mandate that any petition, regardless of its subject, must be submitted following due process, and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition was not in compliance.
Bamidele pointed out that the suspension was strictly a response to her failure to follow Senate protocols and that the Senate’s action was necessary to maintain order and uphold its integrity as the nation’s premier democratic institution. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the politicization of the matter, urging the media to correct the misinformation and refrain from distorting facts.
The Senate has made it clear that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is unrelated to her allegations against the Senate President and should not be construed as such. The Senate has committed to upholding its rules impartially and will not tolerate actions that undermine its authority.
