Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating her removal from office to silence her dissenting voice.
She claims the suspension was pre-planned and politically motivated, following her refusal to comply with alleged corrupt demands and her petition against Senate leadership.
Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has once again leveled serious allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming he masterminded her recent suspension from the Senate.
In a revealing interview, Senator Natasha argued that her removal was not due to a minor disagreement over seating, as widely portrayed, but rather a calculated move orchestrated by Akpabio to silence her outspoken stance on key issues.
Breakdown of Natasha’s rift with Akpabio
Natasha explained that her relationship with Akpabio had once been cordial, primarily due to his longstanding friendship with her husband. However, political disagreements and a refusal to comply with questionable demands reportedly created tension between them. She asserted that the seating controversy used to justify her suspension was nothing more than a fabricated excuse.
“The claim that I disrupted proceedings over a seat is completely untrue,” Natasha stated during the interview.
Citing Chapter 4, Item 9b of the Senate Rules, she said she had raised a matter of privilege that required immediate Senate attention. Instead of responding to the issue, Akpabio allegedly interrupted her and ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort her out of the chamber. She further alleged that the Clerk of the Senate was instructed to draft her suspension letter in advance, suggesting the entire episode was pre-planned.
Petition sparked the fallout
Natasha revealed that she had submitted a formal petition against the Senate leadership just a day before her suspension. She believes this act triggered her removal, adding that the ethics committee report used to justify the action was simply a cover to suppress her dissent.
She also disclosed that during her time as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Akpabio had requested what he termed a “progress report.” According to her, the phrase was a coded request for political or financial favors.
“He laughed and directed me to see a senior senator, who bluntly told me I needed to return either money or jobs from the committee’s dealings,” she said. “When I asked how that would work, I was told to demand funds or appointments from government agencies on behalf of the Senate President. That is corruption, and I refused to participate.”
Assassination plot claims and counter-petitions
Senator Natasha had earlier accused Akpabio of plotting to have her assassinated. In response, Akpabio filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, denying the allegations and accusing her of trying to tarnish his image and stir public outrage.
Natasha, however, stood her ground, describing the petition as a diversion intended to distract law enforcement from fully investigating her claims. She called on Akpabio to submit himself to a proper inquiry, stating that only a thorough investigation would clear the air and establish the truth.
As tensions continue to rise between the two lawmakers, the controversy underscores growing concerns about internal power struggles within the Senate and the broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
