Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan reignites her battle against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by resubmitting a sexual harassment petition against him. This time, she submitted the petition on behalf of her constituents, led by Zubairu Yakubu, further escalating the political showdown between the two lawmakers.
The atmosphere in the Senate chamber grew tense as Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan formally presented the petition. Senate President Akpabio, appearing unbordered, questioned whether there were any legal barriers preventing the Senate from accepting the petition. Without hesitation, Akpoti-Uduaghan affirmed there were none. At exactly 12:38 PM, Akpabio directed her to officially lay the petition before the Senate, setting the stage for yet another chapter in this unfolding saga.
In a dramatic twist, the petition was immediately referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen of the Labour Party. The committee has been given four weeks to conduct a legislative review and report back to the plenary, signaling that the battle is far from over.
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This latest move follows a previous petition submitted by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan just a day earlier, which was met with stiff opposition. The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, citing Senate Standing Order 40, had argued that the matter was sub judice due to an ongoing court case involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President. He further contended that because Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed the petition, it could not be entertained. The Senate Ethics Committee swiftly dismissed the petition, declaring it “dead on arrival.”
The renewed petition adds fuel to an already raging fire between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio. Just last Thursday, tensions boiled over in the Senate chamber when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the sudden reassignment of her seat by Akpabio. Upon arriving at the session, she discovered her nameplate had been removed and her seat reassigned, sparking an intense confrontation.
As the power struggle intensifies, the Nigerian Senate remains on edge, with the nation watching closely.
