Senate President Godswill Akpabio faces fresh sexual harassment allegations from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, echoing similar claims made in 2020 by Joi Nunieh. Akpoti-Uduaghan accused him of demanding sexual favors for recognition in plenary. Akpabio has not responded, reigniting debates on misconduct and accountability in Nigerian politics.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio is once again at the center of controversy as fresh allegations of sexual harassment surface, echoing a similar accusation from 2020. This time, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has publicly accused Akpabio of demanding sexual favors before allowing her to speak at the plenary.
The lawmaker made the claims during a live television interview, stating that Akpabio’s refusal to recognize her in the Senate stemmed from her rejection of his alleged advances. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Akpabio has yet to issue a response. His media aide, Jackson Udom, did not return multiple calls seeking clarification.
This isn’t the first time Akpabio has faced such accusations. Nearly five years ago, when he was Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joi Nunieh, also accused him of sexual harassment. Nunieh revealed in a televised interview that she once slapped Akpabio in his guest house after he allegedly made inappropriate advances toward her. She claimed he attempted to use his position to pressure her, but she resisted.
Akpabio vehemently denied the allegations at the time, dismissing Nunieh’s claims as a result of "temperamental issues" and suggesting she needed medical evaluation. He insisted her removal from office had nothing to do with corruption but was due to insubordination.
With Natasha’s new accusations surfacing in a similar manner, questions are being raised about Akpabio’s conduct and whether these repeated allegations warrant further investigation. As the Senate President remains silent, political analysts and advocacy groups are urging authorities to take the claims seriously, ensuring accountability at the highest levels of government.
