The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday dismissed a sexual harassment petition filed against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following a heated plenary session marked by procedural debates and conflicting arguments.
At the session’s outset, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan read the petition aloud before submitting it to Akpabio, who initially accepted it. However, tensions quickly escalated when Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Munguno, questioned the petition’s validity on procedural grounds.
Referring to Order 40(4) of the Senate rules, Senator Tahir Munguno cautioned that disregarding established procedures could result in “chaos and anarchy.” He contended that the petition was invalid since Senate rules prohibit a senator from personally signing and submitting their own petition. “Senator Natasha had signed her own petition, making it procedurally defective,” Munguno argued.
In response, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that her petition was not about sexual harassment but rather defamatory comments regarding her dressing. Citing Order 10, which allows any senator to rise and speak at any time, she insisted that her petition deserved consideration.
Former Senate Leader Abdullahi Adamu attempted to ease tensions by suggesting that, since Akpabio had already accepted the petition, it should be forwarded to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for review. However, this recommendation sparked further disagreement, triggering multiple points of order and a brief uproar in the chamber.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele supported the stance that no senator can author and sign their own petition. He further noted that the case was already in court, as Akpabio’s wife had initiated legal action, making the matter sub judice and beyond the Senate’s jurisdiction.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Natasha Submits Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio at Plenary
“Mr. President, I sympathize with you as a man being accused of sexual harassment,” Bamidele said. “However, we must be guided by the Constitution and our Rule Book, not emotions. You accepted the petition based on emotion, but we must uphold due process.”
In his defense, Akpabio clarified that his decision to accept the petition was not out of disregard for Senate rules but rather to avoid any public perception that he was deliberately silencing Akpoti-Uduaghan because he was implicated in the matter.
“I took that petition because I didn’t want people who don’t understand our rules to think I was deliberately silencing her,” Akpabio explained.
Despite efforts to push for a closed-door session, Akpabio ruled that the plenary should proceed in the open. Ultimately, the Senate sided with the Senate Leader’s argument and dismissed the petition, effectively settling the contentious issue—at least within the legislative chamber.
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