Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that she had previously made unfounded allegations that traumatised him and others.
Speaking at an event marking International Women’s Day, Akpabio dismissed the accusations against him, insisting that the controversy only emerged after changes to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate seat and committee assignments.
The suspension has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who accused the Senate of creating a hostile environment for women in politics.
Akpabio maintained that the allegations were baseless and questioned the impact of such claims on the Senate’s image. He also challenged the credibility of previous accusations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan, emphasising that none had been proven.
The controversy continues to fuel debates on gender representation and political fairness in Nigeria’s legislative system.
