The Nigerian Senate as soon as once more made worldwide headlines on March sixth, 2025—not for passing a groundbreaking invoice, resolving insecurity, or proposing a path out of financial despair, however for a sordid drama so outrageous it left the nation concurrently laughing, cringing, and despairing.
Within the pink chamber that must be reserved for critical democratic enterprise, a full-fledged altercation unfolded between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reworking the Higher Home into an emotionally charged theatre of non-public vendettas, wounded pleasure, and (but once more) alleged sexual misconduct.
It started, fairly ridiculously, over a chair. Natasha, who had returned to seek out her seat reassigned, refused to conform. As an alternative of transferring, she dug in her heels like a defiant monarch whose throne had been usurped. Akpabio, armed with the rulebook and the authority of his workplace, refused to acknowledge her. From there, the drama snowballed right into a screaming match, after which exploded into one thing much more sinister.
The bombshell? Natasha alleged that Akpabio had been intentionally silencing her ever since what she cryptically known as the “nightclub incident.” Then, like a seasoned performer in a courtroom cleaning soap opera, she declared: “You tried to sleep with me!”
The chamber erupted. The media went right into a frenzy. And Nigerians, starved of governance however fed a gradual weight loss program of political spectacle, braced for what was clearly not the primary time such allegations had been lobbed on the Senate President.
As a result of this isn’t Akpabio’s first rodeo.
Again in 2020, the then-acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Pleasure Nunieh, accused him of attempting to cross comparable strains—this time behind the closed doorways of his ministerial workplace. She claimed she slapped him in self-defense, after which, like so many ladies earlier than and after her, was swept apart by the equipment of silence. There was no investigation. No penalties. Simply political reshuffling.
Now, the identical accusations rise once more—from a senator on the ground of the Senate. So the query have to be requested: What number of extra ladies will it take earlier than Nigerians cease treating these allegations as sideshows?
However within the midst of calling out Akpabio’s habits, we should not fall into the lure of romanticizing Natasha’s resistance.
There’s something disturbingly strategic about her outburst. If, as she claims, Akpabio made such an advance, and if that act was as inappropriate and coercive as she suggests—then why enable it to linger for this lengthy with out motion? Why sit on such a critical accusation till it may very well be weaponized in a dramatic, politically advantageous second?
Allow us to be clear: victims of harassment have to be protected and heard. However justice calls for motion, not efficiency. Natasha will not be an intern. She’s not powerless. She is a senator of the Federal Republic. She has entry to authorized channels, the media, and the ethical platform to behave. If the Senate President actually tried to take advantage of his energy, she owed it not simply to herself however to each lady navigating Nigeria’s male-dominated energy buildings to lift the alarm instantly—not when it’s politically handy or emotionally flamable.
As an alternative, she allowed the rot to fester till it served her narrative, and now, amid the theatrics, the reality—no matter it could be—is buried beneath a pile of political calculations.
And what of Akpabio?
The once-dignified picture of a statesman is now shredded by repeated allegations of inappropriate conduct, vindictiveness, and chauvinism. What number of extra public workplaces will he ascend earlier than the system decides character issues? What number of taxpayer-funded workplaces have served as backdrops for his rumored flirtations? What number of ladies has he embarrassed, stifled, or sidelined? If even a fraction of what’s mentioned about him is true, then the pink chamber has grow to be not a Senate, however a sanctum for unchecked energy and sexual entitlement.
Let’s not child ourselves—Akpabio didn’t invent this tradition. He’s merely its present poster boy.
Throughout get together strains and positions, Nigerian politics is rife with males who view their workplace not as a instrument for nationwide service, however as a harem of affect—the place ladies are evaluated not by coverage contributions however by proximity to energy. This can be a area the place patronage replaces efficiency, and the place the presence of a girl within the Senate is handled not as a victory for inclusion, however a temptation to be managed.
That’s the actual tragedy.
So whereas Akpabio ought to completely be held accountable for the tradition he embodies, your complete system that allows and normalizes this habits should even be dismantled. That begins by stopping the normalization of silence, and rejecting the performative feminism that solely emerges when it’s politically handy.
Natasha’s speech struck a chord, not as a result of it was courageous, however as a result of it was late. It raised a crucial query: what number of ladies are enjoying alongside in silence, ready for his or her second to strike again with the very data they need to have used to wash up the system within the first place?
We should demand extra from each ladies and men in energy. As a result of whereas Akpabio might allegedly abuse energy, Natasha could also be responsible of selectively confronting it. And each types of irresponsibility weaken our establishments and insult the Nigerian folks.
In the meantime, actual points—like gasoline subsidies, financial collapse, youth unemployment, and banditry—stay unaddressed. However in fact, there’s no time to manipulate when one is busy combating turf wars, defending bruised egos, and airing soiled laundry on nationwide tv.
In the long run, we’re left with no heroes on this story, solely performers.
Akpabio and Natasha have proven us what occurs when private grievance overtakes public obligation. When the Senate turns into a stage and legislators grow to be actors, the residents grow to be the forgotten viewers—watching, struggling, ready for the plot to lastly change.
But when that is the brand new customary for political engagement, then let’s no less than be sincere: the Nigerian Senate is not a democratic establishment. It’s a drama sequence. And the scriptwriters are all excessive on impunity.
The one query that is still is: how far more of our nationwide dignity are we keen to commerce for the leisure of elite irresponsibility?
As a result of whereas the remainder of the world legislates for progress, Nigeria’s lawmakers proceed to chase microphones, grudges, and one another.
Welcome to Senate Circus. Season Two is already writing itself.
The Nigerian Senate as soon as once more made worldwide headlines on March sixth, 2025—not for passing a groundbreaking invoice, resolving insecurity, or proposing a path out of financial despair, however for a sordid drama so outrageous it left the nation concurrently laughing, cringing, and despairing.
Within the pink chamber that must be reserved for critical democratic enterprise, a full-fledged altercation unfolded between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reworking the Higher Home into an emotionally charged theatre of non-public vendettas, wounded pleasure, and (but once more) alleged sexual misconduct.
It started, fairly ridiculously, over a chair. Natasha, who had returned to seek out her seat reassigned, refused to conform. As an alternative of transferring, she dug in her heels like a defiant monarch whose throne had been usurped. Akpabio, armed with the rulebook and the authority of his workplace, refused to acknowledge her. From there, the drama snowballed right into a screaming match, after which exploded into one thing much more sinister.
The bombshell? Natasha alleged that Akpabio had been intentionally silencing her ever since what she cryptically known as the “nightclub incident.” Then, like a seasoned performer in a courtroom cleaning soap opera, she declared: “You tried to sleep with me!”
The chamber erupted. The media went right into a frenzy. And Nigerians, starved of governance however fed a gradual weight loss program of political spectacle, braced for what was clearly not the primary time such allegations had been lobbed on the Senate President.
As a result of this isn’t Akpabio’s first rodeo.
Again in 2020, the then-acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Pleasure Nunieh, accused him of attempting to cross comparable strains—this time behind the closed doorways of his ministerial workplace. She claimed she slapped him in self-defense, after which, like so many ladies earlier than and after her, was swept apart by the equipment of silence. There was no investigation. No penalties. Simply political reshuffling.
Now, the identical accusations rise once more—from a senator on the ground of the Senate. So the query have to be requested: What number of extra ladies will it take earlier than Nigerians cease treating these allegations as sideshows?
However within the midst of calling out Akpabio’s habits, we should not fall into the lure of romanticizing Natasha’s resistance.
There’s something disturbingly strategic about her outburst. If, as she claims, Akpabio made such an advance, and if that act was as inappropriate and coercive as she suggests—then why enable it to linger for this lengthy with out motion? Why sit on such a critical accusation till it may very well be weaponized in a dramatic, politically advantageous second?
Allow us to be clear: victims of harassment have to be protected and heard. However justice calls for motion, not efficiency. Natasha will not be an intern. She’s not powerless. She is a senator of the Federal Republic. She has entry to authorized channels, the media, and the ethical platform to behave. If the Senate President actually tried to take advantage of his energy, she owed it not simply to herself however to each lady navigating Nigeria’s male-dominated energy buildings to lift the alarm instantly—not when it’s politically handy or emotionally flamable.
As an alternative, she allowed the rot to fester till it served her narrative, and now, amid the theatrics, the reality—no matter it could be—is buried beneath a pile of political calculations.
And what of Akpabio?
The once-dignified picture of a statesman is now shredded by repeated allegations of inappropriate conduct, vindictiveness, and chauvinism. What number of extra public workplaces will he ascend earlier than the system decides character issues? What number of taxpayer-funded workplaces have served as backdrops for his rumored flirtations? What number of ladies has he embarrassed, stifled, or sidelined? If even a fraction of what’s mentioned about him is true, then the pink chamber has grow to be not a Senate, however a sanctum for unchecked energy and sexual entitlement.
Let’s not child ourselves—Akpabio didn’t invent this tradition. He’s merely its present poster boy.
Throughout get together strains and positions, Nigerian politics is rife with males who view their workplace not as a instrument for nationwide service, however as a harem of affect—the place ladies are evaluated not by coverage contributions however by proximity to energy. This can be a area the place patronage replaces efficiency, and the place the presence of a girl within the Senate is handled not as a victory for inclusion, however a temptation to be managed.
That’s the actual tragedy.
So whereas Akpabio ought to completely be held accountable for the tradition he embodies, your complete system that allows and normalizes this habits should even be dismantled. That begins by stopping the normalization of silence, and rejecting the performative feminism that solely emerges when it’s politically handy.
Natasha’s speech struck a chord, not as a result of it was courageous, however as a result of it was late. It raised a crucial query: what number of ladies are enjoying alongside in silence, ready for his or her second to strike again with the very data they need to have used to wash up the system within the first place?
We should demand extra from each ladies and men in energy. As a result of whereas Akpabio might allegedly abuse energy, Natasha could also be responsible of selectively confronting it. And each types of irresponsibility weaken our establishments and insult the Nigerian folks.
In the meantime, actual points—like gasoline subsidies, financial collapse, youth unemployment, and banditry—stay unaddressed. However in fact, there’s no time to manipulate when one is busy combating turf wars, defending bruised egos, and airing soiled laundry on nationwide tv.
In the long run, we’re left with no heroes on this story, solely performers.
Akpabio and Natasha have proven us what occurs when private grievance overtakes public obligation. When the Senate turns into a stage and legislators grow to be actors, the residents grow to be the forgotten viewers—watching, struggling, ready for the plot to lastly change.
But when that is the brand new customary for political engagement, then let’s no less than be sincere: the Nigerian Senate is not a democratic establishment. It’s a drama sequence. And the scriptwriters are all excessive on impunity.
The one query that is still is: how far more of our nationwide dignity are we keen to commerce for the leisure of elite irresponsibility?
As a result of whereas the remainder of the world legislates for progress, Nigeria’s lawmakers proceed to chase microphones, grudges, and one another.
Welcome to Senate Circus. Season Two is already writing itself.
