Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Sends Sarcastic ‘Apology’ to Senate President Akpabio, Reigniting Tensions Over Alleged Gender Bias, Harassment, and Retaliation in the Senate
Suspended Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has reignited controversy in the National Assembly with a scathing, satirical letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a tone dripping with irony, Akpoti-Uduaghan “apologized” for the “grievous crime” of maintaining dignity and self-respect in the Senate. Mocking what she described as expectations of submission, she wrote:
“How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… ‘requests’ was not merely a personal choice but a constitutional violation of certain men’s entitlement.”
Addressing systemic sexism in the legislative body, she continued:
“Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.”
The letter, signed “Yours in eternal resistance,” portrays Akpoti-Uduaghan as unyielding in the face of growing political pressure.
Tensions between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio first surfaced publicly in July 2024, after Akpabio dismissed her attempt to speak on the Senate floor with a remark widely condemned as sexist: “We are not in a nightclub.” Although Akpabio later issued a statement claiming no offense was intended, relations deteriorated further.
In February 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan formally accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, citing inappropriate advances. The Senate dismissed her petition on procedural grounds. Shortly after, she was suspended for six months over unrelated allegations — a move many Nigerians saw as politically motivated retaliation.
The suspension sparked nationwide protests under the banner “We Are All Natasha,” with women’s rights groups rallying in her defense and accusing the Senate of systemic gender discrimination.
While some political groups, including the Kogi Patriotic Consultative Assembly, urged her to apologize and move on, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s latest letter signals her refusal to back down. Many Nigerians have hailed her defiance as a powerful stand against entrenched patriarchal structures in Nigerian politics.
Senate President Akpabio has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as “baseless” and threatening legal action for defamation.
As the controversy deepens, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bold letter appears to have further cemented her reputation as an unbending voice for accountability and gender equity in Nigeria’s political arena.
Follow News Review on Facebook and X
, has reignited controversy in the National Assembly with a scathing, satirical letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.){kind=link}