Peter Nwaebonyi, deputy chief whip of Nigeria's Senate, dismisses Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio, calling them politically motivated. Nwaebonyi argues the accusations were made to divert attention from Akpoti-Uduaghan's disciplinary review, criticizing the timing and lack of evidence.
Peter Nwaebonyi, the deputy chief whip of the Nigerian Senate, has dismissed the sexual harassment accusations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming they are politically motivated. Nwaebonyi argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations, which surfaced after a recent seat reallocation in the Senate, were an attempt to divert attention from disciplinary proceedings against her. The senator from Kogi Central had opposed her new seat assignment, suggesting that it was intended to silence her voice in the Senate. In response, the Senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for review.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made serious allegations on February 25, claiming that Akpabio had attempted to make sexual advances toward her both in his office and at home. This led to widespread reactions, including a lawsuit filed by Akpabio's wife, Ekaette, and calls for a full investigation into the claims. Former Senate President Bukola Saraki also called for transparency in the investigation, urging both parties to cooperate fully.
However, Nwaebonyi strongly criticized the timing of the accusations, questioning why no complaints had been made earlier to fellow senators or her colleagues. He claimed the allegations were an attempt to avoid accountability and scrutiny for her actions. Nwaebonyi insisted that the Senate must not be manipulated by what he called "baseless" claims and should focus on the legitimate disciplinary processes.
