Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has denied allegations of sexual harassment made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Speaking on Wednesday during the Senate’s resumption of plenary after a week’s recess, Akpabio dismissed the accusations, asserting, “At no time did I ever harass any woman,” and emphasized that he had been raised by his late single mother to always uphold respect for women. He also pointed out that he was recognized as the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.
However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan immediately raised a petition under Order 40, accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office. She sought permission to formally present the petition before the Senate, which was subsequently referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for review.
This matter has sparked significant attention within the Senate, with both parties involved maintaining their positions. The committee is expected to investigate the allegations as soon as possible, with further developments likely to unfold in the coming days.
