In a bold and satirical letter, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has addressed Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following her allegations of sexual harassment against him.
The letter, laced with irony and pointed critiques, portrays the senator’s unwavering stance amidst the controversy that has gripped Nigeria’s political landscape for months.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s letter read, “Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio,
“It is with the deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret that I tender this apology for the grievous crime of possessing dignity and self-respect in your most exalted presence. I have reflected extensively on my unforgivable failure to recognize that legislative success in certain quarters is apparently not earned through merit, but through the ancient art of compliance — of the very personal kind.
“How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… “requests” was not merely a personal choice, but a constitutional violation of the unwritten laws of certain men’s entitlement. Truly, I must apologize for prioritizing competence over capitulation, vision over vanity, and the people’s mandate over private dinners behind closed doors.
“I now realize the catastrophic consequences of my actions: legislation delayed, tempers flared, and the tragic bruising of egos so large they require their own postcodes. For this disruption to the natural order of “quid pro quo,” I bow my head in fictional shame.
“Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.
“I remain,
Yours in eternal resistance,
Senator Natasha H Akpoti Uduaghan
Unafraid, Unbought, and Unbroken”
The senator’s allegations stem from an incident on December 8, 2023, during a courtesy visit, where she claims Akpabio made inappropriate advances, even in the presence of her husband. Akpabio has categorically denied these allegations, questioning their timing and suggesting they are politically motivated.
The Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition on procedural grounds, citing that she had signed it herself, rendering it “dead on arrival.” Subsequently, on March 6, 2025, the Senate suspended her for six months, citing “persistent acts of misconduct,” including refusing to sit in her assigned seat and making “abusive remarks” against Senate leadership. The suspension entails the withdrawal of her salary, security details, and access to her office.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has rejected the Senate’s rationale, asserting that her suspension is a direct consequence of her refusal to acquiesce to Akpabio’s alleged advances. She has taken her case to international platforms, including a presentation at the United Nations’ Women in Parliament session, seeking global intervention.
Civil society organizations and human rights advocates have condemned the Senate’s actions. Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Atedo Peterside, described the suspension as “disturbing” and disrespectful to her constituents.
Mabel Adinya Ade of the Adinya Arise Foundation labeled the Senate’s response as a “stunning display of patriarchal impunity.”
