The suspended Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has stirred new controversy with a sharply worded apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, laced heavily with sarcasm and satire.
In a letter that drips with irony, Akpoti-Uduaghan mockingly apologized for what she described as the “grievous crime” of maintaining her dignity and self-respect within the Senate chambers. She pointedly referenced the expectation of submission, stating: “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.”
Pushing further, she noted systemic sexism in the legislative arm, writing: “Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.”
Her letter continued with lines dripping with theatrical regret and a firm stance against what she called the culture of compliance expected by some in power. She sarcastically apologized for prioritizing competence over submission and placing the people’s mandate above personal favors.
This bold move is the latest episode in a long-running clash between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio. Their tensions first broke into public view in July 2024, when during a heated Senate session, Akpabio rebuked her attempt to speak without formal permission, saying, “We are not in a nightclub.” The statement was widely criticized as sexist, sparking outrage and calls for an apology.
Though Akpabio later tried to downplay the incident, claiming he meant no disrespect and affirming his respect for women, the situation only worsened. In February 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan officially accused him of sexual harassment, alleging inappropriate comments and unwanted advances. Her complaint, however, was dismissed on procedural grounds by Senate leadership.
Matters escalated further when the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over unrelated issues, a move many Nigerians viewed as retaliation. Protests broke out across the country, with activists and women’s rights groups rallying behind her under the banner “We are all Natasha,” decrying gender bias in Nigeria’s political institutions.
While some groups, like the Kogi Patriotic Consultative Assembly, urged her to apologize and move forward, a large portion of Nigerians praised her courage, seeing her as a symbol of resistance against oppression and entrenched male dominance in politics.
Meanwhile, Senate President Akpabio has strongly denied all allegations against him, describing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims as “baseless” and “malicious.” He has also indicated plans to seek legal redress for defamation and character assassination.
