The Senate Leader, Bamidele Opeyemi, has clarified that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and not because of a sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Opeyemi made this known in a statement on Saturday, addressing the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension.
The lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District accused certain media organizations of spreading false narratives about the reason for the suspension.
He stated, “The Authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly rebuts the deliberate misinformation and false narratives being circulated by certain media organizations regarding the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan.”
Opeyemi emphasized that the suspension was solely due to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s misconduct, adding, “Let it be unequivocally stated that Senator Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent acts of misconduct, blatant disregard for the provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended) and gross indiscipline—nothing more, nothing less.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan had submitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Akpabio, which was formally presented during a plenary session. Akpabio denied the allegation and urged Nigerians not to jump to conclusions. Following the petition, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan, a move that sparked public outrage.
Opeyemi explained that the suspension was a decision taken by the committee of the whole Senate after a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imaseun, found her guilty of violating Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Rules.
He outlined the reasons for her suspension, stating, “The disciplinary action was a response to her repeated violations of legislative decorum, including refusing to sit in her assigned seat during plenary on 25th February 2025, despite multiple pleas from the Minority Leader and other ranking Senators—an act of open defiance and disorderly conduct. She also spoke without being recognised by the presiding officer on the same day, engaged in unruly behavior, obstructed Senate proceedings, made abusive remarks against the leadership, and ignored summons from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.”
Opeyemi stressed that these actions challenged the authority of the Senate and breached the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended). He urged the public and the media to dismiss any reports linking the suspension to the sexual harassment allegation, stating, “The disciplinary measure was necessary to restore order and uphold the integrity of the Senate as the country’s foremost democratic institution.”
Opeyemi also called on the public to verify facts before spreading politically motivated narratives, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the Senate’s credibility and adherence to legislative rules.
