The Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, has issued a clarification regarding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, emphasizing that her six-month suspension was not related to any sexual harassment allegations made against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Opeyemi made the clarification in a statement released to PUNCH Online on Saturday, addressing the growing controversy surrounding the suspension.
Opeyemi, who represents the Ekiti Central Senatorial District, stated that certain media outlets were circulating false narratives about the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan. According to him, these reports were misleading, suggesting that her suspension stemmed from her sexual harassment petition against Akpabio, which she had submitted earlier in the Senate.
The sexual harassment petition, which Akpoti-Uduaghan formally submitted on the floor of the Senate, came after the upper legislative chamber resumed plenary. In the petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Akpabio of making inappropriate advances towards her. Akpabio quickly denied the accusations, stating that he had never harassed Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other female senator, urging the public to refrain from drawing premature conclusions.
Following the submission of the petition, the Senate leadership suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan, a move that stirred significant controversy across the country. Some Nigerians believed that the suspension was a retaliatory action linked to her sexual harassment claim against Akpabio. However, Opeyemi was quick to address these concerns in his statement.
“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 declared. “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.”
Opeyemi further clarified that if Akpoti-Uduaghan had adhered to the proper procedures and practices of the Senate, her petition would have been treated based on merit, as is customary. However, her repeated disregard for institutional rules and parliamentary norms led to the disciplinary action. “If Senator Uduaghan had strictly followed our guiding principles, the Senate would have treated her petition based on merit in line with its practice. But she never obeyed the established practices of the institution where she was serving,” Opeyemi explained.
The suspension, according to Opeyemi, was the result of a decision made by the full Senate following a report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of violating several sections of the Senate’s rules, including a failure to comply with basic parliamentary procedures.
Opeyemi detailed some of the violations that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. “The report found her guilty of violating Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Rules and recommended her immediate suspension,” he stated. The violations included: refusing to sit in her assigned seat during plenary on February 25, 2025, despite multiple requests from the Minority Leader and other senior Senators; speaking without being recognized by the presiding officer; engaging in disruptive and unruly behavior that obstructed Senate proceedings; making abusive remarks against the Senate leadership; and defying the summons of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
“These actions represented a direct challenge to the Senate’s authority and a violation of Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended),” Opeyemi continued. “The disciplinary measure was, therefore, necessary and justified to restore order and uphold the integrity of the Senate as the country’s foremost democratic institution.”
The Senate Leader also urged the public and media to dismiss any reports suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was linked to her sexual harassment allegations. Opeyemi emphasized that the suspension was strictly due to her misconduct and that it was important for Nigerians to seek the truth before spreading politically motivated narratives.
“The public and the media should disregard any false reports suggesting otherwise,” he said. “Always seek the truth before spreading politically motivated narratives that only serve to create confusion.”
In closing, Opeyemi reiterated the Senate’s commitment to upholding the integrity of its proceedings and ensuring that all members adhere to its rules and standards of conduct. He emphasized that the disciplinary action taken against Akpoti-Uduaghan was an essential step in preserving the order and decorum of the Senate.
