Akpabio vs Natasha: Senator Adaramodu explains provides fresh insight

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Nigerian Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South, has provided his version of the events that occurred in the Senate on February 20, 2025, which led to a rowdy session.

The disruption began when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, refused to take a new seat allocated to her by the Senate leadership. This incident escalated, eventually leading to Akpoti-Uduaghan filing a petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and obstructing her legislative duties.

Senate President Akpabio has denied the allegations, stating that he does not harass women, and the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions declared the petition against him to be “dead on arrival.”

Senator Adaramodu said on Channels Television, “The Fourth Republic started in 1999 and there had been a set rule. There had also been a practice stated in our orders, that is standing rules. Now it is not 26 years after Natasha came on board that it would be rubbished and changed because of her.

“Let me tell you what really happened. When a seat is charged, the sergeant at arm is notified by the presiding officer. And once the sergeant at arm is notified, he will notify the senator.

“Then our own sister-Senator came almost 30 minutes before plenary that day. She had already been informed when she came earlier. She had never been coming as early as that…and when she got there, there were about 4 Senators whose seats were changed.

“But she flung that inscription of her name. She flung it off and started raining curses and abuses even before the plenary. So she already waited for that plenary and then she did not move to the seat allocated to her.

“She sat on the previous seat and the person that was supposed to sit there could not find a seat to sit. And then she raised a point of order.

“And then, the chief whip, who is supposed to maintain decorum now raised his hand that a Senator is not properly seated and until you are properly seated…you cannot make contributions either on privileges or on rights you cannot make any contribution.

“So she was prevented from making any contribution. Even as she was prevented from making contributions, she was still shouting then it is prerogative, it is there in our order that the presiding officer can order you out.

“But the other Senators prevailed on the presiding officer, the Senate President, not to order her out. So, she was given the opportunity to even sit on the wrong seat throughout the plenary of that day. You cannot ask for a point of order when you’re not in order.

“You cannot say you can talk from anywhere. If that is possible, it means that a Senator could be at the market and be raising his or her hands.”

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